title: Differential pulse voltammetric studies of ethidium bromide binding to DNA.
abstract: The interaction of ethidium bromide (EtBr) with calf thymus DNA is investigated electrochemically with the use of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at two different ionic strengths of a solution (0.154 M and 0.02 M [Na+], pH 7.0). It is revealed that EtBr binds with DNA in more than one way. The appropriate values of constants (K) and number site sizes (n) of EtBr binding to DNA are determined. The values of binding constants are equal to 1.9 x 10(6) and 5.6 x 10(5) M(-1), and number site sizes to 9 and 3.6 for strong interactions at ionic strengths of solutions 0.02 and 0.154 M Na+ at 28 degrees C, respectively. For a weaker interaction, these parameters are equal to 7 x 10(4) and 8 x 10(4) M(-1) and 1.5 and 1 at the mentioned ionic strengths of solutions, respectively. Thus, EtBr interacts with DNA in more than one way--intercalative and electrostatic at low ionic strength, and semi-intercalative and electrostatic at a higher strength of the solution. These results are in good accordance with the ones obtained by spectroscopic (absorption and fluorimetric) methods.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Liquid-Phase Oxidation and Free-Radical Reactions, Institute of Chemical Physics named after A.B. Nalbandyan, NAS of Armenia, Sevak St., 5/2, 375014, Yerevan, Armenia.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Minasyan
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tavadyan
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Antonyan
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Davtyan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Parsadanyan
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Vardevanyan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004996:Ethidium / Q000737:chemistry*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; C427203:calf thymus DNA; D004996:Ethidium