Quaternary benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids are secondary metabolites of the plant families Papaveraceae, Rutaceae, and Ranunculaceae with anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Their spectral changes induced by the environment could be used to understand their interaction with biomolecules as well as for analytical purposes. Spectral shifts, quantum yield and changes in lifetime are presented for the free form of alkaloids in solvents of different polarity and for alkaloids bound to DNA. Quantum yields range from 0.098 to 0.345 for the alkanolamine form and are below 0.033 for the iminium form. Rise of fluorescence lifetimes (from 2-5 ns to 3-10 ns) and fluorescence intensity are observed after binding of the iminium form to the DNA for most studied alkaloids. The alkanolamine form does not bind to DNA. Acid-base equilibrium constant of macarpine is determined to be 8.2-8.3. Macarpine is found to have the highest increase of fluorescence upon DNA binding, even under unfavourable pH conditions. This is probably a result of its unique methoxy substitution at C12 a characteristic not shared with other studied alkaloids. Association constant for macarpine-DNA interaction is 700000 M(-1).

• MeSH
• alkaloidy chemie   MeSH
• benzofenantridiny chemie   MeSH
• DNA chemie   MeSH
• rozpouštědla chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alkaloidy MeSH
• benzofenantridiny MeSH
• DNA MeSH
• rozpouštědla MeSH

The fluorescence properties of selected benzo[c]phenanthridines (BPs) were examined. The effect of structure, pH and solvent on the fluorescence properties has been investigated. It was found out that the presence of charged iminium nitrogen significantly decreased the fluorescence of the compounds. The fluorescence (intensity as well as emission spectra shape) of the investigated compounds was significantly dependent on pH as well as used solvent. The utilization in epigenetic modification mechanisms studies as demethylase probe and as possible pH indicator was suggested.

• MeSH
• benzofenantridiny chemická syntéza   chemie   MeSH
• fluorescence * MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva chemická syntéza   chemie   MeSH
• fluorescenční spektrometrie MeSH
• koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• průtoková cytometrie MeSH
• rozpouštědla chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• benzofenantridiny MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva MeSH
• rozpouštědla MeSH