title: Electrochemical studies of danthron and the DNA-danthron interaction.
abstract: Danthron is an important natural occurring component in laxative drugs. In this paper, electrochemical investigation of danthron and its interaction with DNA is reported. Via the electrochemical approach assisted by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, we have proved that danthron intercalates into DNA strands forming some nonelectroactive complexes, which results in the decrease of redox peak currents of danthron. In addition, the decrease of the peak currents is proportional to the concentration of DNA. The difference between the interaction of danthron with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) has also been studied. This character implies the potential of danthron to discriminate dsDNA and ssDNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and National Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ziyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: Yoshitomo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anzai
authors.forename: Genxi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D004247:DNA; C004315:danthron