DNA binding studies of Sunset Yellow FCF using spectroscopy, viscometry and electrochemical techniques

Unveiling the tartrazine binding mode with ds-DNA by UV-visible spectroscopy, electrochemical, and QM/MM methods

Here, we studied the interaction between the food colorant tartrazine (TZ) and double stranded DNA (dsDNA), using spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational methods such as QM/MM combined with TD-DFT. Despite the UV-vis spectroscopy is widely used to study the interaction between molecules, for the case of TZ there are discrepancies in the analyses presented in the literature available, presenting both hyperchromic and hypochromic effects and consequently different rationalizations for their results. Herein we propose the combination of UV-vis experiments with the design of high-level computational models capable of reproducing the experimental behavior to finally define the proper binding mode at the molecular scale together with the rationalization of the experimental optical response due to the complex formation. To complement the UV-vis experiments, we propose the use of electrochemical measurements, to support the results obtained through UV-vis spectroscopy, as it has been successfully used for the determination of interaction modes between small molecules and biomolecules in any condition. Our UV-vis spectroscopy experiments showed only a hypochromic effect of the absorption spectra of TZ after interaction with DNA, indicative of TZ being deeply buried in the DNA structure. The effect of ionic strength in the experimental procedures led to the dissociation of TZ, thus indicating that the interaction mode was groove binding. On the other hand, the electrochemical studies showed an irreversible reduction peak of TZ, which after the interaction with DNA exhibited a positive shift in potential that can be attributed to groove binding. The binding constant for TZ-DNA was calculated as 4.45x10⁴M^-1 (UV-vis) and 5.75x10⁴M^-1 (electrochemistry), in line with other groove binder azo dyes. Finally, through the QM/MM calculations we found that the minor-groove binding mode interacting in zones rich in adenine and thymine was the model best suited to reproduce the experimental UV-vis response.

Intercalation of diafenthiuron insecticide with calf thymus DNA: spectroscopic and molecular dynamics analysis

A series of biophysical experiments like UV-Vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), competitive displacement assays, voltammetric studies, viscosity measurements and denaturation effect and metadynamics simulation studies were performed to establish the mode of binding of diafenthiuron (DF) insecticide with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA). Analysis of absorption and fluorescence spectra in Tris-HCl buffer of pH 7.4 indicates the formation of a complex between DF and CT-DNA and the binding constant of which is in the order of 10⁴ M^-1. Competitive displacement assay with ethidium bromide (EB) and Hoechst 33258 suggests that the most probable mode of binding of DF with CT-DNA may be via intercalation mode. The results of other experiments such as CD spectral studies, viscosity measurements and the effect of denaturation agent urea support the intercalation of DF with CT-DNA. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH^o, ΔS^o and ΔG^o) reveal that hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) or van der Waals (vdW) force is the main binding force in the spontaneous interaction between DF and CT-DNA. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies confirmed the intercalation of DF into the base pairs of CT-DNA.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Direct evidences for the groove binding of the Clomifene to double stranded DNA

It has been reported that the antiestrogen Tamoxifen induces liver tumors in rats and genotoxic effects in vitro through DNA interaction. So, it can be proposed that its structural analogue, Clomifene, also can bind to DNA. To test this hypothesis, the DNA binding properties of Clomifene have been studied by absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, cellular uptake, cell viability, cell proliferation and molecular modeling techniques. Evidences are provided that Clomifene could interact with DNA via minor groove interaction mode. The negative ΔG value implied that the interaction occurred between DNA and Clomifene spontaneously. Also, the positive ΔH and positive ΔS values indicated that the binding of Clomifene with DNA is mainly entropy driven and the enthalpy is unfavorable parameter. This also suggests that the hydrophobic interaction plays a major role in the binding with overall binding constant of K=5.645×10⁷M^-1 at 298K. From the results of docking, it can be concluded that Hydrogen bonds is also one of the most important interactions. The increase in entropy of system after binding might be due to the destruction of the DNA structure.