Osetrov S. Molecular basis of interaction of anthracycline antibiotics with double-helical DNA fragments

Anthracycline antibiotics daunomycin (DAU) and nogalamycin (NOG). The main problem of this works to find out the nature of intermolecular interactions between antibiotics (DAU and NOG) and double-helical fragments of DNA. Structural and thermodynamical parameters of self-association of DAU, NOG and their complexation with deoxytetranucleotides (DT) of different base sequence have been determined. Based on these data and 2D-NOESY spectra, the most favourable structures of DAU, NOG dimers and complexes of DAU with duplexes of DT in aqueous solution have been derived. Molecular basis of the sequence-specific binding of anthracycline antibiotics with DNA has been suggested. The obtained results may be used in the field of molecular biophysics, genetics and pharmacology.