Bis(pyrrolecarboxamide) linked to intercalating chromophore oxazolopyridocarbazole (OPC): selective binding to DNA and polynucleotides

We have investigated some properties related to interaction with DNA and recognition of AT-rich sequences of netropsin-oxazolopyridocarbazole (Net-OPC) (Mrani et al., 1990), which is a hybrid groove-binder-intercalator. The hybrid molecule Net-OPC binds to poly[d(A-T)] at two different sites with Kapp values close to 7 x 10(6) and 6 x 10(8) M-1 (100 mM NaCl, pH 7.0). Data obtained from melting experiments are in agreement with these values and indicate that Net-OPC displays a higher binding constant to poly[d(A-T)] than does netropsin. On the basis of viscometric and energy transfer data, the binding of Net-OPC to poly[d(A-T)] is suggested to involve both intercalation and external binding of the OPC chromophore. In contrast, on poly[d(G-C)], Net-OPC binds to a single type of site composed of two base pairs in which the OPC chromophore appears to be mainly intercalated. The binding constant of Net-OPC to poly[d(G-C)] was found to be about 350-fold lower than that of the high-affinity binding site in poly[d(A-T)]. As evidenced by footprinting data, Net-OPC selectively recognizes TTAA and CTT sequences and strongly protects the 10-bp AT-rich DNA region 3'-TTAAGAACTT-5' containing the EcoRI site. The binding of Net-OPC to this sequence results in a strong and selective inhibition of the activity of the restriction endonuclease EcoRI on the plasmid pBR322 as substrate. The extent of inhibition of the rate constant of the first strand break catalyzed by the enzyme is about 100-fold higher than the one observed in the presence of netropsin under similar experimental conditions.

Electrochemotherapy of spontaneous mammary tumours in mice

Electrochemotherapy delivers external electric pulses to the tumour site to induce local potentiation of the antitumour activity of intramuscular injections of bleomycin. C3H/Bi mice with spontaneous mammary carcinomas received weekly injections of 50 micrograms bleomycin followed by electric pulses 30 min later. All the 38 tumours treated exhibited at least a partial regression. 23 complete remissions were observed, 3 of which were cures. One difficulty in assessing the cure rate in this model is that frequent parallel or sequential tumours cause early death. Electrochemotherapy appears similarly efficient in spontaneous tumours as in previously studied transplanted tumours.

Heterocyclic quinones. 17. A new in vivo active antineoplastic drug: 6,7-bis(1-aziridinyl)-4-[[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]amino]-5,8- quinazolinedione

A series of heterocyclic quinones, 6-substituted and 6,7-disubstituted 4-(alkylamino)-5,8-quinazolinediones, have been synthesized in order to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity on L1210 leukemia cells. Among 14 derivatives that have been prepared and studied for the structure-activity relationship, the most potent cytotoxic compound on L1210 leukemia cells was the 6,7-bis(1-aziridinyl)-4-[[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]amino]-5,8- quinazolinedione (24). This compound has been tested with the use of a cell-image processor on MCF-7 human mammary and HBL human melanoma cell lines. The results show that compound 24 influences cell proliferation and blocks both cells lines in the S phase. In vivo antineoplastic activity of compound 24 has been demonstrated on a broad spectrum of murine experimental models, but it was found highly toxic and produced long-delayed deaths.

Electrochemotherapy potentiation of antitumour effect of bleomycin by local electric pulses

In cell culture the cytotoxicity of some anticancer drugs, especially bleomycin, can be greatly enhanced by exposing cells to non-cytotoxic electric pulses. Nude or conventional mice bearing subcutaneous transplanted tumours were treated with intramuscular doses of bleomycin followed by local delivery of electric pulses similar to those used in vitro. Tumors were reduced and even eradicated after this electrochemotherapy. Thus the antitumour effects of bleomycin in mice can be considerably potentiated by local electric pulses.

An analytical study of the dimerization of in vitro generated RNA of Moloney murine leukemia virus MoMuLV

The genome of Moloney murine leukemia virus(MoMuLV) is composed of two identical RNA molecules joined at their 5' ends by the dimer linkage structure (DLS). Recently it was shown that in vitro generated MuLV RNA formed dimeric molecules and that dimerization sequences are located within the Psi encapsidation domain between positions 215 and 420. Conditions for the spontaneous dimerization of a MuLV RNA fragment encompassing the Psi domain have been investigated. The rate of spontaneous MuLV RNA dimer formation is dependent upon RNA, NaCl and MgCl2 concentrations as well as temperature. Thermal denaturation of in vitro generated dimer RNA of 350 nt, from positions 215 to 565, gave a Tm of about 58 degrees C in 100 mM NaCl. This Tm value is very close to that found for RNA corresponding to the 5' 755 nt and to the genomic 70 S RNA isolated from virions. According to thrermodynamic parameters derived from denaturation curves of MuLV dimer RNA generated in vitro, the dimer linkage structure probably involves short sequences.

A new extraction procedure of autonomous DNA from eucaryotic cells, where DNA could be bound to proteins

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Stimulation by gamma-carboline derivatives (simplified analogues of antitumor ellipticines) of site specific DNA cleavage by calf DNA topoisomerase II

gamma-Carbolines are tricyclic aromatic compounds which intercalate into DNA base pairs and exhibit significant cytotoxic and antitumor activities. These compounds which are structurally related to ellipticine by deletion of an aromatic ring, induce DNA breaks in cultured L1210 cells. Since the mechanism of cytotoxic activity of ellipticines involves DNA topoisomerase II, this enzyme might also be a target for gamma-Carbolines. We have tested this hypothesis using an in vitro system containing purified enzyme and pBR322 DNA. The ability of nine derivatives to stabilize the DNA-enzyme covalent complex was studied and compared to their cytotoxicity. The four less cytotoxic compounds do not induce cleavable complex to a significant extent. In contrast, the two most cytotoxic gamma-Carbolines are the most efficient stabilizers of the cleavable complex. The last three compounds exhibit an intermediate cytotoxicity and cleavage activity. In the presence of gamma-Carbolines, cleavage occurs predominantly at a single site in pBR322 which is one of the cleavage sites observed with ellipticines. The cleavage position was determined at the nucleotide level. The increased DNA cleavage specificity observed with gamma-Carbolines suggests that a tricyclic system is as efficient as ellipticines for DNA topoisomerase II cleavage at DNA sequences involved specifically in cytotoxic response. The data presented support the hypothesis that DNA topoisomerase II is a target involved in the mechanisms of action of antitumor gamma-Carbolines.

cis elements and trans-acting factors involved in dimer formation of murine leukemia virus RNA

The genetic material of all retroviruses examined so far consists of two identical RNA molecules joined at their 5' ends by the dimer linkage structure (DLS). Since the precise location of the DLS as well as the mechanism and role(s) of RNA dimerization remain unclear, we analyzed the dimerization process of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMuLV) genomic RNA. For this purpose we derived an in vitro model for RNA dimerization. By using this model, murine leukemia virus RNA was shown to form dimeric molecules. Deletion mutagenesis in the 620-nucleotide leader of MoMuLV RNA showed that the dimer promoting sequences are located within the encapsidation element Psi between positions 215 and 420. Furthermore, hybridization assays in which DNA oligomers were used to probe monomer and dimer forms of MoMuLV RNA indicated that the DLS probably maps between positions 280 and 330 from the RNA 5' end. Also, retroviral nucleocapsid protein was shown to catalyze dimerization of MoMuLV RNA and to be tightly bound to genomic dimer RNA in virions. These results suggest that MoMuLV RNA dimerization and encapsidation are probably controlled by the same cis element, Psi, and trans-acting factor, nucleocapsid protein, and thus might be linked during virion formation.

A phase I trial with recombinant interferon gamma (Roussel UCLAF) in advanced cancer patients

A total of 29 patients with advanced malignancy were treated with recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN gamma, specific activity = 2.10(7) units/mg, purity greater than 95%) given by intravenous bolus at doses escalating from 0.01 mg/m2 to 5 mg/m2 (2 x 10(5) - 10(8) IU/m2) in nine successive steps (at least 3 patients/step). Injections of rIFN gamma were repeated every 72 h for 15 days. Toxicity was evaluated according to the WHO scale. Fever and chills occurred in all patients treated without clear dose effect. Nausea and vomiting appeared at the fifth dose level and their frequency seemed to be dose-related. Cardiovascular side-effects (first-degree atrioventricular reversible block) were observed at the 2 mg/m2 and 5 mg/m2 levels (3 patients). Hematological toxicities were mild (2 grade 1 and 1 grade II cases of granulocytopenia). Minor biological modifications included a transitory rise in hepatic enzymes (12 patients), which correlated with the presence of liver metastasis. Hypocholesterolemia was observed in 18 patients. The appearance of antibodies against rIFN gamma was not detected. One partial clinical response was observed in a patient receiving 2 mg/m2. During rIFN gamma therapy this patient had the highest scores in this series for peripheral T lymphocytes with an activated phenotype (HLA DR+, TAC+) = 15% and for natural killer (NK) cells (NKH1, Leu19+) = 17%. rIFN gamma appears as a well-tolerated and promising therapeutic agent with toxicities and mode of action probably distinct from IFN alpha and beta.

Synthesis, thermal stability and reactivity towards 9-aminoellipticine of double-stranded oligonucleotides containing a true abasic site

A 13 mers abasic oligonucleotide was synthetized. It was therefore possible to compare thermal stability and reactivity of duplex oligonucleotides either with an apurinic/apyrimidinic site or without any lesion. An important decrease in the melting temperature appeared for duplexes with an abasic site. The chemical reaction of these modified oligonucleotides with the intercalating agent 9-aminoellipticine was studied by gel electrophoresis and by fluorescence. The formation of a Schiff base between 9-aminoellipticine and abasic sites was rapid and complete with duplexes at 11 degrees C. Schiff base related fluorescence and beta-elimination cleavage were more important with the apyrimidinic sites than with the apurinic ones. When compared to previous results obtained with the model d(TprpT) some unexpected behaviours appeared with longer and duplex oligonucleotides. For instance only partial beta-elimination cleavage was observed. It is likely that stacking parameters in the double helix play a great role in the studied reaction.

Comparative activity of alpha- and beta-anomeric oligonucleotides on rabbit beta globin synthesis: inhibitory effect of cap targeted alpha-oligonucleotides

Alpha-anomeric oligonucleotides are resistant to nucleases and display parallel annealing to RNA complementary sequences. We compared the effect of alpha- and beta-oligonucleotides targeted against various mRNA regions on the rabbit beta globin in vitro synthesis. In order to determine the role of RNase H, experiments were performed in both rabbit reticulocyte lysate and wheat germ extract. As expected beta-oligonucleotides were found more efficient in wheat germ extract which is rich in RNase H activity and alpha-oligonucleotide targeted against the initiation codon or downstream had no effect because they do not induce mRNA cleavage by RNase H. However, we report, for the first time, a specific translation inhibition by alpha-oligonucleotides. This occurs provided they are targeted against the cap region in 5' of the mRNA.

alpha-DNA X: alpha and beta tetrathymidilates covalently linked to oxazolopyridocarbazolium (OPC): comparative stabilization of oligo beta-[dT]:oligo beta-[dA] and oligo alpha-[dT]:oligo beta-[dA] duplexes by the intercalating agent

The influence of the intercalating oxazolopyridocarbazolium (HOPC) on the stabilization of modified oligonucleotides: alpha-T4c5OPC or beta-T4c5OPC associated to beta-oligo (dA) was studied. It appears that the situation is different from what has been observed for the interaction of these modified oligonucleotides with poly (rA). The higher free energy of formation of the alpha-T4c5OPC :beta-oligo(dA), when compared to beta-T4c5OPC, is essentially due to the overall stability added to this system by the intercalator. This enhanced stability comes from a higher number of binding sites of HOPC for the alpha:beta duplex together with a lower van't Hoff energy of formation of the alpha:beta duplex.

Mechanism of cleavage of apurinic sites by 9-aminoellipticine

We have studied the kinetics of breakage of apurinic (AP) sites by the intercalating agent 9-aminoellipticine using fluorimetric methods with single (ss)- and double (ds)-stranded apurinic DNA. In order to understand the chemical process, high performance liquid chromatography was used to follow the reaction kinetics with the apurinic oligonucleotide model T(AP)T. The unstable intermediate, which is responsible for the beta-elimination step, is a Schiff base resulting from the interaction of the amino group of the aromatic amine with the aldehyde function of the deoxyribose moiety (AP site). Fluorescence occurs simultaneously with the breakage of both ss and ds DNA and of the oligonucleotide and arises from the formation of a conjugated double bond on the Schiff base through the beta-elimination reaction. In optimal conditions, the second order rate constant for the fluorescence build up is 15 x 10(3) min-1 M-1 for ds DNA and 0.105 x 10(3) min-1 M-1 for T(AP)T. The ability of 9-aminoellipticine to induce fluorescence and breakage of ss DNA and T(AP)T shows that intercalation is not essential for this reaction to occur. Nevertheless, the greater rate constant with DNA suggests that stacking is an important parameter for the reaction of the aromatic amine with the AP site.

Inhibition of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase by alpha-anomeric oligonucleotides

After parallel hybridization to complementary template RNA, alpha-anomeric oligonucleotides are not primers for Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase. As can be expected they are competitors of classical primer oligonucleotides (beta-anomeric). They therefore inhibit the RNA dependent DNA polymerase activity of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase with either homopolymeric or heteropolymeric substrates. Non complementary alpha-oligonucleotides display no inhibitory activity. alpha-Oligonucleotides are therefore potential candidates for inhibition of retroviral reverse transcriptases by interference with the primer binding sites.

[Clinical tolerance of CY 216 (Fraxiparin) in the prevention of thromboembolic accidents after neurosurgery]

Clinical tolerance of CY 216 was assessed on 97 patients in two neurosurgical departments (Hopital Lariboisière and Hopital Beaujon, Paris). All the 97 patients were operated on by different cranial approaches, but always including bone flap. No thrombo-embolic event could be detected in this series. Post-operative intracranial hemorrhage was observed in 19 cases on the basis of CT scan performed on the first and seventh post-operative day. Among these 19 patients, 8 presented an increase of the hemorrhagic aspect between the 2 CT scan. However, clinical state of these patients improved and no reoperation was necessary to treat these hemorrhages. From this study, we consider that CY 216 is an effective mean of thrombo-embolism prevention with little hemorrhagic side-effect. Therefore, it can be recommended in the aftermath of intracranial surgical procedures.

Synthesis, DNA binding, and biological evaluation of synthetic precursors and novel analogues of netropsin

A series of oligopeptides have been synthesized that are structurally related to the natural agent netropsin. The binding constants to double-stranded polynucleotides as well as the cytostatic activity against both murine human tumor cell lines and the in vitro activity against a range of DNA and RNA viruses have been determined for these novel compounds and some of their synthetic precursors. 1-Methyl-5-nitropyrrole-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester (4), N-[[1-methyl-4-(1-methyl-4-nitropyrrole-2-carboxamido)pyrrol-2- yl]carbonyl]-L-alanine tert-butyl ester (28), and N-[[1-methyl-4-(1-methyl-4-nitropyrrole-2-carboxamido)pyrrol-2- yl]carbonyl]-L-alanyl-L-alanine tert-butyl ester (29) showed modest inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation (CD50 = 26-85 micrograms/mL). Of all the compounds that were evaluated, 28 proved the most potent antiviral agent. It was inhibitory to parainfluenza-3 virus and Coxsackie virus B4 in Vero cells at a concentration of 20 micrograms/mL.

The G.C base-pair preference of 2-N-methyl 9-hydroxyellipticinium

Among the DNA-intercalating drugs in the ellipticinium series, 9-hydroxy derivatives elicit the highest antitumoral properties. In water these drugs display a very low fluorescence quantum yield. Replacement of H2O by D2O partially restores the fluorescence of the ellipticinium chromophore. The possibility that such a proton-exchange mechanism could be involved in a base-recognizing process at the DNA level (and therefore be responsible for some base preference) was examined by direct fluorescence titration in deuterated buffer and DNA/drug fluorescence energy transfer. These experimental approaches provide mutually consistent results showing that the 9-hydroxylated drug recognizes specific DNA sites that are not recognized by the non-hydroxylated drug. When compared to 2-N-methyl ellipticinium, the 2-N-methyl 9-hydroxyellipticinium presents: (1) higher binding constants for each DNA studied; (2) a base dependence of the fluorescence properties of the bound form (fluorescence increment upon DNA binding varying over 5-11); (3) a base dependence of its DNA affinity constants (1.1-3.3 x 10(6) M-1) and of its site size (exclusion parameters varying over 3.0-4.4); (4) a base dependence of its energy transfer from DNA bases. Analysis of the binding data suggests that the 9-hydroxyl group of 2-N-methyl ellipticinium is responsible for a G.C base-pair preference, the preferred binding site being a doublet sequence of two adjacent G.C which could be flanked either by a additional G.C base pair or by an A.T base pair.

Alpha-DNA VIII: thermodynamic parameters of complexes formed between the oligo-alpha-deoxynucleotides: alpha-d(GGAAGG) and alpha-d(CCTTCC) and their complementary oligo-beta-deoxynucleotides: beta-d(CCTTCC) and beta-d(GGAAGG) are different

The temperature dependence of the formation of a complex between an alpha-d(CCTTCC) hexanucleotide and its complementary beta-d(GGAAGG) sequence was studied and compared to the formation of the beta-d(CCTTCC):beta-d(GGAAGG) complex. Such alpha-beta complex is more stable than the regular beta:beta complex. The Tm value for the alpha:beta complex is 28 degrees C (delta G degrees = -7.3 kcal/mole) while Tm = 20, 1 degree C (delta G degrees = -6.3 kcal/mole) for the beta:beta complex. The stoechiometry of the alpha:beta complex corresponds to the formation of a 1:1 duplex. However, when the alpha- strand is made of alpha-purines: alpha-d(GGAAGG), the stability of the alpha:beta complex, alpha-d(GGAAGG):beta-d(CCTTCC) is found to be lower (Tm = 13.8 degrees C) than the stability of the regular beta-beta complex, leading to the conclusion that the nature of the alpha-sequence is important in terms of stability when considering the synthesis of such a sequence for using it as antisense oligonucleotide.

Voltage-dependent introduction of a d[alpha]octothymidylate into electropermeabilized cells

DC-3F cells were submitted to electric square wave pulses in the presence of a d[alpha]octothymidylate 32P labelled in the 5' position. Radioactivity was incorporated in a voltage-dependent manner and reached a maximum for a field intensity of 1300-1400 V.cm-1. Growth curves and parallel cloning efficiency experiments indicated that cell viability was not altered by electric pulses, alone or in the presence of the oligothymidylate, below a field intensity of 1300 V.cm-1. Using affinity chromatography we extracted the incorporated oligonucleotide and showed that it was not degraded during the electropermeabilization experiment time.

Transient electropermeabilization of cells in culture. Increase of the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs

The electropermeabilization (EPN) of living cells allows the uptake of non-permeant molecules and can reveal their potential activity on cells without the constraints of the plasma membrane crossing. We decided to compare the cytotoxicity of some anticancer drugs on electropermeabilized (EP) and non-permeabilized (NEP) cultured DC-3F cells exposed to the drugs for a short time. After EPN, the increase in cytotoxicity varies between 1 and more than 700 times, depending on the usual cell uptake pathway of a given drug. The most relevant increase of toxicity was observed with molecules such as netropsin (200-fold) and bleomycin (700-fold) which in ordinary conditions weakly diffuse through the plasma membrane. Only a 3-5-fold increase of the cytotoxicity was observed with lipophilic drugs able to rapidly diffuse through the plasma membrane (actinomycin D, NMHE) both in the case of drug-sensitive and resistant cell strains. This increased toxicity is clearly related to a facilitated uptake because, after electropermeabilization, the effects of melphalan (a drug which enters intact cells via leucine transporters) are not modulated by the external leucine concentration. Thus, EPN enables us to reveal the intrinsic toxicity of hydrophilic molecules which have a limited access to their intracellular targets. We propose that EPN can be used as a novel screening procedure of new cytotoxic molecules which could be modified thereafter in order to facilitate their cellular uptake.

Alpha-anomeric DNA: beta-RNA hybrids as new synthetic inhibitors of Escherichia coli RNase H, Drosophila embryo RNase H and M-MLV reverse transcriptase

Nuclease-resistant alpha-anomeric DNA:beta-RNA hybrids are inhibitors of Escherichia coli RNase H, and Drosophila embryo RNase H. RNase H activities were measured by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, employing a short substrate, (A)12:d[G-G-(T)12-G-G], or by acid-solubility techniques, using a long substrate, poly(A):poly(dT). Strand exchanges which could be responsible for the observed inhibition have been ruled out by S1 nuclease experiments and by using inhibitors which do not allow strand exchange. Our results suggest that RNase H, for which DNA:RNA duplexes are the natural substrates, binds to non-physiological alpha-DNA:RNA hybrids and is consequently inhibited. These hybrids also inhibit the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity of M-MLV reverse transcriptase, therefore appearing as potential inhibitors of at least two reverse transcriptase activities. However, the inhibitory effect of these hybrids with respect to M-MLV reverse transcriptase is also observed with the single-stranded alpha-DNA itself. Unexpectedly, polymerase activity is highly stimulated by alpha-oligos, analogous in their sequence to the beta primer used at a concentration unable to generate a detectable synthesis. These results suggest that the inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity with the alpha:beta may occur at different levels.

Frameshift mutagenesis in Escherichia coli by reversible DNA intercalators: sequence specificity

The mutagenic potency of the simple reversible intercalators isopropyl-OPC (iPr-OPC) and 9-aminoacridine (9-AA) is assessed in E. coli using reversion assays based on plasmids derived from pBR322 carrying various frameshift mutations within the tetracycline resistance gene in repetitive sequences: +/- 2 frameshift mutations within alternating GC sequences; +/- 1 frameshift mutation at runs of guanines. The results obtained show that iPr-OPC and 9-AA have a sequence specificity for mutagenesis: they revert +1 and -1 frameshift mutations within runs of monotonous G:C base pairs. The precise determination of the size of a small restriction fragment which contains the mutation allowed us to demonstrate that reversion occurred by -1 deletions for the +1 frameshift mutations and by +1 additions for the -1 frameshift mutations. The possible relations of this specific reversion with the base sequence specificity of the mutagenesis are briefly discussed.

A new series of ellipticine derivatives (1-(alkylamino)-9-methoxyellipticine). Synthesis, DNA binding, and biological properties

A new series of ellipticine derivatives, 1-(alkylamino)-5,11-dimethyl-9-methoxy-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazoles, were synthesized as potential DNA intercalating antitumor drugs. The structure of these compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. These compounds are able to bind to DNA with an affinity of about 10(6) M-1, and their intercalating characteristics (lengthening and unwinding of DNA) depend upon the length of the chain in position 1. The cytotoxicities of these compounds on L1210 and NIH-3T3 cells are quite similar, and fluorescence techniques showed that the compounds are localized mainly in the cytoplasmic granules of the cells. One of these compounds appears to show a very high antitumor activity (equivalent to the more active known ellipticine analogues: 10-[[gamma-(diethylamino)propyl]amino]-6-methyl-5H- pyrido[3',4':4,5]pyrollo[2,3-g]isoquinoleine (BD40), 1-[[gamma-(diethylamino)propyl]amino]-9-methoxyellipticine (BD84) and 2-[beta-(diethylamino)ethyl]-9-hydroxyellipticinium chloride (DEAE).

Binding of ellipticine base and ellipticinium cation to calf-thymus DNA. A thermodynamic and kinetic study

The acid-basic properties of ellipticine have been re-estimated. The apparent pK of protonation at 3 microM drug concentration is 7.4 +/- 0.1. The ellipticine free base (at pH 9, I = 25 mM) intercalates into calf-thymus DNA with an affinity constant of 3.3 +/- 0.2 X 10(5) M-1, and a number of binding sites per phosphate of 0.23. The ellipticinium cation (pH 5, I = 25 mM) binds also to DNA with a constant of 8.3 +/- 0.2 x 10(5) M-1 and at a number of binding sites (n = 0.19). It is postulated that the binding of the drug to DNA at pH 9 is driven by hydrophobic and/or dipolar effects. Even at pH 5, where ellipticine exists as a cation, it is thought that the hydrophobic interaction is the main contribution to binding. The neutral and cationic forms share common binding within DNA sites but yield to structurally different complexes. The free base has 0.04 additional specific binding sites per phosphate. As determined from temperature-jump experiments, the second-order rate constant of the binding of the free base (pH 9) is 3.4 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 and the residence time of the base within the DNA is 8 ms. The rate constant for the binding of the ellipticinium cation is 9.8 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 when it is assumed that drug attachment occurs via a pathway in which the formation of an intermediate ionic complex is not involved (competitive pathway).