Study on noncovalent complexes of cytotoxic protoberberine alkaloids with double-stranded DNA by using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
The noncovalent complexes of four cytotoxic protoberberine alkaloids that is, berberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, and coptisine with double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides d(AAGAATTCTT)(2) were investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. These four active components from Chinese herbal medicines showed both 1:1 and 1:2 binding stoichiometries, independent on the alkaloid-to-DNA ratios. Binding affinities in the order of palmatine> or =jatrorrhizine>coptisine>berberine with d(AAGAATTCTT)(2) were obtained. Additionally, the preliminary results indicated that berberine had some sequence selectivities.
Chen
Wen-Hua
WH
School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
Chan
Chi-Leung
CL
Cai
Zongwei
Z
Luo
Guo-An
GA
Jiang
Zhi-Hong
ZH
D001600:Berberine Alkaloids / Q000378:metabolism*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; C009090:protoberberine; D004247:DNA