Open AccessStereochemical model for proflavine intercalation in A-DNA
Author(s) -
Charles J. Alden,
Struther Arnott
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
nucleic acids research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 9.008
H-Index - 537
eISSN - 1362-4954
pISSN - 0305-1048
DOI - 10.1093/nar/4.11.3855
Subject(s) - proflavine , intercalation (chemistry) , steric effects , biology , dna , dihedral angle , mutagenesis , crystallography , stereochemistry , mutation , biochemistry , molecule , chemistry , gene , hydrogen bond , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry
Linked-atom molecular modelling was employed to determine the steric and torsional requirements for intercalation of proflavine into a double-stranded region of DNA compatible with adjacent regions of cohelical A-DNA. The optimum intercalation conformation is characterized by the dihedral angles xi and psi becoming trans, with all sugars retaining the characteristics C3'-endo pucker. This extended conformation results in virtually no helical unwinding, suggesting it may be an appropriate model for an intercalative intermediary in mutagenesis by virtue of its similarity to standard helical DNA.