title: Does anthramycin bind to Z-DNA as well as to B-DNA? A molecular mechanics study.
abstract: Molecular mechanics simulations have been presented on the covalent complexes between anthramycin and the decanucleotides d(GCGCGCGCGC)2 and d(GCGCGTGCGC).d(GCGCACGCGC) in the novel Z form, with the drug docked in the minor groove. The simulations predict that anthramycin binds to Z-DNA almost as well as it does to B-DNA, but with a few key differences in the structural aspects of binding. In particular, the 5' orientation of the drug is preferred in the Z form, contrasting with the preference for 3' orientation in the B form and the drug has a left-handed twist. While no experimental studies have been published on the binding of pyrrolo(1,4)benzodiazepines to left-handed forms of DNA, the energy refined stereochemically satisfactory models provide valuable information which will hopefully simulate high resolution 2-D NMR/NOE studies in solution.
authors.affiliation: Searle Research and Development, Division of G.D. Searle and Co., Skokie, Illinois 60077.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000876:Anthramycin; D001483:Base Sequence; D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D002151:Calorimetry; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003196:Computer Graphics; D004247:DNA; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
chemical_list: D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D000876:Anthramycin; D004247:DNA