Zeitschrift für Arzneimittelstoffwechsel und Toxikologie
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Spectroscopic Studies of the Binding Interactions of Phenothiazininum Dyes (Thionine Acetate, Azure A and Azure B) with Calf-thymus DNA

Mohan Kumar, Mahima Kaushik, Swati Chaudhary and Shrikant Kukreti

The double helical structure of DNA offers various binding sites for the interaction of ligands or proteins. Interactions using minor groove, major groove, and through intercalation are the major types of binding mechanisms of DNA-ligand interactions. The lowering in the absorption intensity along with bathochromic shift is the indication of intercalation binding mode of the dye into the base pairs of the DNA. In this study, the interaction of phenothiazine dyes with calf-thymus DNA (ctDNA) in physiological buffer (pH 7.4) was studied using UV-visible, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and UV-thermal denaturation spectroscopy. The binding constants were calculated at different temperatures with the help of fluorescence spectroscopy. CD signals signify that B-form of DNA might become more compact, upon binding of the dyes. Also, induced circular dichroism is observed which confirms the dye-DNA complex formation. Stabilization of DNA double helix upon binding with dyes was confirmed by the increase in Tm of ctDNA. Based on thermal melting profiles, it was found that thionine acetate is most promising in stabilizing the DNA double helix, in comparison to other two dyes. Also, binding constants calculated by fluorescence is in accordance with the thermal melting analysis. These results are indicative of the intercalation binding mode between dyes and the DNA. The binding affinity of the dyes to DNA is found to be in order as thionine acetate > azure A > azure B. Such preliminary studies facilitate our understanding about various types of DNAligand interactions and provide clues for designing new and more effective drugs.