title: Synthesis and DNA-sequence selectivity of a series of mono- and difunctional 9-aminoacridine nitrogen mustards.
abstract: The aim of this work was to identify nitrogen mustards that would react selectively with DNA, particularly in G-rich regions. A series of mono- and difunctional nitrogen mustards was synthesized in which the (2-chloroethyl)amino functions were connected to the N9 of 9-aminoacridine by way of a spacer chain consisting of two to six methylene units. The length of the spacer chain connecting the alkylating and putative DNA-intercalating groups was found to affect the preference for the alkylation of different guanine-N7 positions in a DNA sequence. All of the compounds reacted preferentially at G's that are followed by G as do most other types of nitrogen mustards, but the degree of selectivity was greater. The compounds reacted at much lower concentrations than were required for comparable reaction by mechlorethamine (HN2), consistent with initial noncovalent binding to DNA prior to guanine-N7 alkylation. The degree of DNA-sequence selectivity increased as the spacer-chain length decreased below four methylene units. Most strikingly, long spacer compounds reacted strongly at 5'-GT-3' sequences, whereas this reaction was almost completely suppressed when the spacer length was reduced to two or three methylenes. Mono- and difunctional compounds of a given spacer length showed no consistent difference in DNA-sequence preference.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Guziec
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Guziec
mesh_terms: D000166:Acridines / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000478:Alkylation; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006147:Guanine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000166:Acridines; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D009588:Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D006147:Guanine; D004247:DNA