title: The interaction of adriamycin and adriamycin analogues with nucleic acids in the B and A conformations.
abstract: The reinforced intercalative binding to DNA typical of adriamycin and daunomycin can still occur if there is epimerisation at C4' or if the O-methyl group is lost or if the 9-substituents are deleted or if the 4'-hydroxyl group is lost. In the latter two cases however, there is a reduction in affinity for the DNA, supporting the suggested role of the 9-hydroxyl and 4'-hydroxyl groups in secondary stabilization of the complex. Epimerisation at C-1' or at C-3' alters but does not abolish the intercalative mode of binding to DNA whereas epimerisation at C-7 precludes intercalation of the chromophore into the helix of DNA. In contrast to the interaction with the B-form found in DNA, the parent drugs do not intercalate into nucleic acids possessing the A-conformation and none of the above-mentioned structural changes will allow intercalation into A-form nucleic acids.
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004317:Doxorubicin; D004247:DNA