DNA-induced distamycin A fluorescence.
The fluorescent properties of the antibiotic distamycin A were investigated in a range of materials including Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, chicken erythrocytes, calf thymus DNA and synthetic polynucleotides using both microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. A bright blue-white fluorescence was observed from kinetoplast DNA and chromatin after treatment with distamycin A under ultraviolet (365 nm) excitation. Considerable enhancement of distamycin A fluorescence (emission peak at 455 nm under 320-340 nm excitation) was found in the presence of DNA and poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT). We discuss a possible explanation for this unexpected fluorescent emission, as well as its implications for microscopic and fluorimetric studies.
Departamento de Biología, C-XV Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain.
J C
JC
Stockert
P
P
Del Castillo
J L
JL
Bella
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004214:Distamycins / Q000032:analysis*; D005453:Fluorescence; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides / Q000032:analysis; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000032:analysis*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi
D004214:Distamycins; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides; D011758:Pyrroles; C030000:stallimycin; D004247:DNA