Binding of [(dien)PtCl] Cl to poly(dG-dC)-poly(dG-dC) facilitates the B goes to Z conformational transition.

Chlorodiethylenetriamineplatinum(II) chloride, [(dien)PtCl]Cl, bound to less than or equal to 10% of the nucleotide bases of poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) reduces the amount of ethanol necessary to bring about the B goes to Z conformational transition in proportion to the amount of platinum complex bound as monitored by CD spectroscopy. The transition may be effected by 25% ethanol with 9.3% of the bases modified polymer an ethanol with 5.4% of the bases modified. With an unmodified polymer an ethanol concentration of 55-60% is necessary to bring about the transition. The assignment of the Z conformation was supported by 31P NMR spectroscopy. This covalent modification of the DNA is reversed by treatment with cyanide ion after which the normal amount of ethanol is necessary to achieve the transition. The platinum complex shows no enhanced binding to DNA in the Z versus the B conformation. Between 20 and 33% (saturation binding) modification, [(dien)PtCl]Cl binds cooperatively to the heterocopolymer as judged by CD spectroscopy. At this high level of modification it is no longer possible to induce the Z DNA structure with ethanol. When [(dien)PtCl]Cl is bound to preformed (with ethanol) Z DNA at saturating levels the CD spectrum is altered but reverts to the spectrum of highly modified DNA upon removal of ethanol. The antitumor drug cis-diaminedichloroplatinum(II), cis-DDP, binds to poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) and alters the CD spectrum. It does not facilitate the B goes to Z conformational change, however, and actually prevents it from happening even at very high ethanol concentrations.     

The effect of ionic strength on melting of DNA modified by platinum(II) complexes

Thermal denaturation of calf thymus DNA modified by antitumor cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) and by two related Pt(II) compounds which had been shown to be clinically inefective, viz. trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (trans-DDP) or monodentate diethylenetriaminechloroplatinum(II) chloride {[Pt(dien)Cl)]Cl}, was studied by monitoring changes of absorbance at 260 nm. The melting of DNA platinated to different levels was investigated in neutral media containing varying concentrations of Na⁺. It has been shown that the ionic strength has a strong influence on the character and magnitude of changes in the melting temperature of DNA (T_m) induced by the platination. The modification of DNA by either platinum complex used in this work results in an increase of T_m if DNA melting is measured in media containing low Na⁺ concentrations (ca. 1 mM). This effect is reversed at higher Na⁺ concentrations. The concentration of Na⁺ at which this reversal occurs is, however, markedly lower for DNA modified by cis-DDP than for DNA modified by the other two platinum complexes. These results have been iterpreted to mean that at least three factors affect the thermal stability of DNA modified by the platinum(II) complexes: stabilization effects of the positive charge on the platinum moiety and of interstrand cross-links, and a destabilization effect of conformational distortions in DNA. Thus, in order to compare and interpret the melting behavior of DNA modified by different compounds, a great attention has to be paid to the composition of the medium in which the melting experiments are carried out.     

Differential recognition by the tumor suppressor protein p53 of DNA modified by the novel antitumor trinuclear platinum drug BBR3464 and cisplatin

The trinuclear platinum agent BBR3464, a representative of a new class of anticancer drugs, is more potent than conventional mononuclear cisplatin [cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)]. BBR3464 retains significant activity in human tumor cell lines and xenografts that are refractory or poorly responsive to cisplatin, and displays a high activity in human tumor cell lines that are characterized by both wild-type and mutant p53 gene. In contrast, on average, cells with mutant p53 are more resistant to the effect of cisplatin. It has been hypothesized that the sensitivity or resistance of tumor cells to cisplatin might be also associated with cell cycle control and repair processes that involve p53. DNA is a major pharmacological target of platinum compounds and DNA binding activity of the p53 protein is crucial for its tumor suppressor function. This study, using gel-mobility-shift assays, was undertaken to examine the interactions of active and latent p53 protein with DNA fragments and oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes modified by BBR3464 in a cell free medium and to compare these results with those describing the interactions of these proteins with DNA modified by cisplatin. The results indicate that structurally different DNA adducts of BBR3464 and cisplatin exhibit a different efficiency to affect the binding affinity of the modified DNA to p53 protein. It has been suggested that different structural perturbations induced in DNA by the adducts of BBR3464 and cisplatin produce a differential response to p53 protein activation and recognition and that a 'molecular approach' to control of downstream effects such as protein recognition and pathways of apoptosis induction may consist in design of structurally unique DNA adducts as cell signals.     

Sequence-dependent conformational changes in DNA induced by polynuclear platinum complexes

In this work, the B-->Z transition of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) and the B-->A transition of poly(dG).poly(dC) and of calf thymus (CT) DNA fragments modified by antitumor bifunctional polynuclear platinum complexes were investigated by circular dichroism (CD). The transition from the B- to Z-form of DNA was inducible with all three compounds studied, as indicated by an inversion of the B-form spectra. The B-->A transition in poly(dG).poly(dC) was induced easily by platinum complex binding alone, while the B-->A transition in CT DNA was induced by ethanol but inhibited by coordination of all polynuclear platinum compounds used here. It was shown that the compound [?cis-PtCl(NH3)2?2 mu-?H2N(CH2)6NH2?] (NO3)2 (1,1/c,c) was most effective at inhibiting the B-->A transition in CT DNA, and [?trans-PtCl(NH3)2?2 mu-?trans-Pt(NH3)2(H2N(CH2)6NH2)2?] (NO3)4 (1,0,1/t,t,t) was least effective, while the effectiveness of [?trans-PtCl(NH3)2?2 mu-?H2N(CH2)6NH2?] (NO3)2 (1,1/t,t) fell between the two. This corresponded to the relative amounts of interstrand crosslinks in double-stranded DNA caused by each compound.     

The effect of platinum derivatives on interfacial properties of DNA

The interaction of DNA modified by the binding of various platinum compounds with an electrically charged mercury surface was studied by means of linear sweep voltammetry. It was found that DNA and its adducts with antitumour active cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) on the one hand and antitumour inactive trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (trans-DDP) and diethylenetriaminechloroplatinum(II) chloride (dien-Pt) on the other were unwound due to their adsorption on the negatively charged mercury surface polarized to the potentials of a narrow region around -1.2 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode). The modification of DNA by bifunctional platinum compounds (cis- and trans-DDP) resulted in a substantial lowering of the extent of this interfacial conformational rearrangement, the modification by trans-DDP being more effective. The modification of DNA by monofunctional dien-Pt influenced the unwinding of DNA on the mercury surface only negligibly. It has been concluded that in particular interstrand cross-links induced by platinum compounds in DNA are responsible for the effect of these drugs on the extent of the interfacial unwinding of DNA. This conclusion is in good agreement with the view that among the lesions induced in DNA by platinum compounds, the interstrand cross-links are of less significance from the point of view of the antitumour efficacy of these inorganic drugs.     

Ligands possessing affinity to specific DNA base pair sequences. IX. Synthesis of netropsin and distamycin A analogs having sarcolysin residues or a platinum(II) atom]

In search for compounds capable of forming covalent bonds with DNA AT-pair clusters, distamycin A and netropsin analogues containing DL-sarcolysin or platinum (II) atom at the N-terminus of the molecule were synthesized, as well as bis-netropsin and bis-distamycin in which two netropsin- or distamycin-like fragments are bound via a cis-diammineplatinum (II) residue. It is shown that these substances can be used for the DNA selective cleavage.     

Modulation of platinum antitumor drug binding to DNA by linked and free intercalators

We report the DNA binding site preferences of the novel molecule AO-Pt, in which the anticancer drug dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II) is linked by a hexamethylene chain to acridine orange. The sequence specificity of platinum binding was mapped by exonuclease III digestion of 165 and 335 base pair restriction fragments from pBR322 DNA. Parallel studies were carried out with the unmodified anticancer drugs cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) and dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II), [Pt(en)Cl2]. Oligo(dG) sequences are the most prevalent binding sites for AO-Pt, with secondary binding occurring mainly at d(AG) sites. cis-DDP and [Pt(en)Cl2] bind less readily to the secondary sequences, with cis-DDP showing greater binding site selectivity than [Pt(en)Cl2]. The DNA intercalator ethidium bromide promotes binding of [Pt(en)Cl2] and cis-DDP to many sites containing d(CGG) and, to a lesser extent, d(AG) sequences. AO-Pt exhibits enhanced binding to these sequences without the need for an external intercalator. Unlinked acridine orange, however, does not promote binding of [Pt(en)Cl2] and cis-DDP to d(CGG) and d(AG) sequences. These results are discussed in terms of the sequence preferences, stereochemistry, and relative residence times of the intercalators at their DNA binding sites. By modulating local structure in a sequence-dependent manner, both linked and, in the case of ethidium, free intercalators can influence the regioselectivity of covalent modification of DNA by platinum antitumor drugs.     

Binding of cis- and trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) to deoxyribonucleic acid exposes nucleosides as measured immunochemically with anti-nucleoside antibodies

We report the use of anti-nucleoside antibodies to probe for local denaturation of calf thymus DNA upon binding of the antitumor drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), cis-DDP, and the biologically inactive analogues trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), trans-DDP, and chloro(diethylenetriamine)platinum(II) chloride, [Pt(dien)Cl]Cl. These antibodies specifically recognize each of the four DNA nucleosides. They bind well to denatured DNA, but not to native DNA in which the bases are less accessible owing to Watson-Crick duplex structure. At relatively high levels of modification (D/N approximately 0.1), cis-DDP causes significant disruption of DNA base pairing as reflected by the increased binding of anti-cytidine, anti-adenosine, and anti-thymidine antibodies. At lower levels of platinum adduct formation, however, all four anti-nucleoside antibodies bind more to DNA modified with trans-DDP. This result indicates that adducts formed by trans-DDP disrupt the DNA structure to a greater extent than those formed by cis-DDP at low D/N ratios. Modification of DNA by the monofunctional complex [Pt(dien)Cl]Cl does not affect its recognition by anti-nucleoside antibodies, demonstrating that base pair disruption is a consequence of bifunctional binding. The relative anti-nucleoside antibody recognition of cis-DDP-modified DNA is anti-cytosine greater than anti-adenosine approximately anti-thymidine much greater than anti-guanosine, consistent with the major adduct being an intrastrand d(GpG) cross-link. These results reveal that base pair disruption in a naturally occurring DNA modified by either cis-DDP or trans-DDP is sufficient to be detected by protein (antibody) binding. The relevance of these findings to current ideas about the molecular mechanism of action of cis-DDP is discussed.     

Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) modified DNA stimulates far greater levels of S1 nuclease sensitive regions than does the modification produced by the trans- isomer

S1 endonuclease recognizes distortions in DNA structure produced by both cis- and trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) binding. However, cis-(NH₃)₂PtCl₂ binding stimulates far greater levels of S1 digestion than does the trans-isomer. This supports the view that the modes of binding for the two isomers differ and shows that cis-(NH₃)₂PtCl₂ causes a greater disruption of the secondary structure. The S1 digestion products include acid soluble DNA fragments with bound platinum, with the latter providing evidence that (NH₃)₂PtCl₂ is directly responsible for the structural alteration. These findings also reveal that at low levels of binding, the average number of nucleotides excised for each platinum excised in cis-(NH₃)₂PtCl₂ modified DNA is twice as large as for the trans-isomer.     

Conformational analysis of site-specific DNA cross-links of cisplatin-distamycin conjugates

The requirement for novel platinum antitumor drugs led to the concept of synthesis of novel platinum drugs based on targeting cisplatin to various carrier molecules. We have shown [Loskotova, H., and Brabec, V. (1999) Eur. J. Biochem. 266, 392-402] that attachment of DNA minor-groove-binder distamycin to cisplatin changes several features of DNA-binding mode of the parent platinum drug. Major differences comprise different conformational changes in DNA and a considerably higher interstrand cross-linking efficiency. The studies of the present work have been directed to the analysis of oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes containing single, site-specific adducts of platinum-distamycin conjugates. These uniquely modified duplexes were analyzed by Maxam-Gilbert footprinting, phase-sensitive gel electrophoresis bending assay and chemical probes of DNA conformation. The results have indicated that the attachment of distamycin to cisplatin mainly affects the sites involved in the interstrand cross-links so that these adducts are preferentially formed between complementary guanine and cytosine residues. This interstrand cross-link bends the helix axis by approximately 35 degrees toward minor groove, unwinds DNA by approximately 95 degrees and distorts DNA symmetrically around the adduct. In addition, CD spectra of restriction fragments modified by the cisplatin-distamycin conjugates have demonstrated that distamycin moiety in the interstrand cross-links of these compounds interacts with DNA. This interaction facilitates the formation of these adducts. Hence, the structural impact of the specific interstrand cross-link detected in this study deserves attention when biological behavior of cisplatin derivatives targeted by oligopeptide DNA minor-groove-binders is evaluated.     

Giant platinum clusters: 2-nm covalent metal cluster labels.

A new class of covalently linkable platinum cluster reagents with core diameters close to 2 nm has been prepared. The new label offers the performance advantages and versatility of the 1.4-nm Nanogold in a larger label which is more clearly visualized against electron-dense regions of a specimen. Large platinum clusters were prepared by the reduction of platinum(II) acetate in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline ligands which had been synthetically modified to include solubilizing and reactive cross-linkable functional groups. These were then conjugated site-specifically to antibody IgG molecules and to Fab' fragments and visualized by scanning transmission electron microscopy. The resulting conjugates may be autometallographically enhanced and show sensitivity similar to that of Nanogold conjugates in immunoblotting experiments. In preliminary experiments, they have also exhibited labeling of tissue antigens and penetrate to access nuclear targets.     

Cytotoxic acridinylthiourea and its platinum conjugate produce enzyme-mediated DNA strand breaks

The reactions of plasmid DNA modified with the novel acridinylthiourea, 1-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dimethylthiourea (1), and the corresponding intercalator-tethered platinum complex (2) with human type I and type II topoisomerases have been studied. Assays were based on evaluating DNA cleavage products resulting from incubations of drug-modified DNA in cell-free systems. 2 produces double-strand breaks in the presence of topo II while 1 proved to be a dual topo I/topo II poison.     

Monofunctional DNA-platinum(II) adducts block frequently DNA polymerases.

The question of whether monofunctional DNA platinum(II) adducts block synthesis of DNA by purified DNA polymerases of different types and origin has been investigated by comparing the time dependence of synthesis arrest and of DNA adduct formation. Activated salmon testis DNA is used as a suitable substrate for DNA synthesis allowing to probe inhibition by platinum(II) monoadducts for the variety of inherent template-primers. Reaction amplitudes are related to defined mixtures of dichloro and chloroaqua platinum(II) complexes. It is found that (i) all investigated DNA polymerases seem arrested (100% efficiency) at bifunctional DNA adducts. (ii) human DNA polymerase beta bypasses most of the monofunctional lesions of the three platinum(II) complexes investigated. (iii) Klenow fragment is blocked by monoadducts with increasing efficiency in the order cis-diamminechloroaquaplatinum(II) (0%) less than meso-[1,2-bis(2,6- dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine] chloroaquaplatinum(II) (50%) less than trans-diamminechloro-aquaplatinum(II) (75%). (iv) Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I, Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase, Physarum polycephalum DNA polymerase alpha, and calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha appear to be arrested by monoadducts. According to these examples, blocking efficiencies depend on the cis/trans-stereogeometry of fixation of the carrier ligands at platinum(II) residues, on the size/chemical nature of the platin(II) carrier ligand and on the type/origin of DNA polymerase.     

The Role of Glutathione in Protection against DNA Damage Induced by Rifamycin SV And Copper(II) Ions

Incubation of calf thymus DNA in the presence of rifamycin SV induces a decrease in the absorbance of DNA at 260 nm. The effect, was found to be proportional to the antibiotic concentration and enhanced by copper(II) ions. In the presence of rifamycin SV and copper(II), a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive (TBA-reactive) material is also observed. This effect is inhibited to different degrees by the following antioxidants: catalase 77%; thiourea 72%; glutathione (GSH) 62%; ethanol 52%; and DMSO 34%, suggesting that both hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radicals (OH·) are involved in DNA damage. Rifamycin SV-copper(II) mixtures were also found to induce the production of peroxidation material from deoxyribose and, in this case, glutathione and ethanol were the most effective antioxidant substrates with inhibition rates of 91% and 88% respectively.

Electrophoretic studies show that calf thymus DNA becomes damaged after 20 min. incubation in the presence of both agents together and that the damaged fragments run with migration rates similar to those obtained by the metal chelating agent 1,10-phenanthroline. Normal DNA electrophoretic pattern was found to be preserved by catalase, and GSH at physiological concentrations and by thiourea. No protection is observed in the presence of ethanol or DMSO. The results obtained indicate the involvement of different reactive species in the degradation process of DNA due to rifamycin SV-copper(II) complex and emphasize the role of reduced glutathione as an oxygen free radical scavenger.     

Mechanisms of DNA damage induced by morin,an inhibitor of amyloid β-peptide aggregation

Morin is a potential inhibitor of amyloid β-peptide aggregation. This aggregation is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, morin has been found to be mutagenic and exhibits peroxidation of membrane lipids concurrent with DNA strand breaks in the presence of metal ions. To clarify a molecular mechanism of morin-induced DNA damage, we examined the DNA damage and its site specificity on ³²P-5′-end-labeled human DNA fragments treated with morin plus Cu(II). The formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), an indicator of oxidative DNA damage, was also determined in calf thymus DNA treated with morin plus Cu(II). Morin-induced DNA strand breaks and base modification in the presence of Cu(II) were dose dependent. Morin plus Cu(II) caused piperidine-labile lesions preferentially at thymine and guanine residues. The DNA damage was inhibited by methional, catalase and Cu(I)-chelator bathocuproine. The typical ?OH scavengers ethanol, mannitol and sodium formate showed no inhibitory effect on DNA damage induced by morin plus Cu(II). When superoxide dismutase was added to the solution, DNA damage was not inhibited. In addition, morin plus Cu(II) increased 8-oxodG formation in calf thymus DNA fragments. We conclude that morin undergoes autoxidation in the presence of Cu(II) via a Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox cycle and H₂O₂ generation to produce Cu(I)-hydroperoxide, which causes oxidative DNA damage.     

Investigations into the mechanism of action of anti-tumour platinum compounds: time- and dose-dependent changes in the alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation profiles of DNA from hamster cells treated with cis-platinum (II) diamminedichloride.

Under the conditions of low speed centrifugation used in this study, the proportion of radioactively labelled DNA from Chinese hamster V79-379A cells sedimenting to the 700S region of an alkaline sucrose gradient was increased in a dose-dependent manner by prior treatment of the cells for 2 h with cis-platinum (II) diamminedichloride [cis-Pt(II)]. This increase was at the expense of material sedimenting in the 400-650S region. This profile was not modified by a 2-h post-treatment incubation prior to centrifugation. 6 h after treatment, the DNA from treated cells sedimented in a narrow band at a position corresponding to 350S. 21 h after exposure to the drug, a dose-dependent restitution of the DNA species sedimenting in the 450-650S range was observed. These results combined with other data relating to platinum binding allow the following conclusions to be reached: (1) cis Pt(II) treatment does not lead to the rapid formation of single-stranded breaks or alkali-labile sites in cellular DNA. (2) The time-dependent changes in sedimentation rate of DNA from treated cells may reflect the transient appearance of gaps following endonuclease attack at platinum-bound sites in DNA. (3) The likely ratio of inter to intra-strand DNA-platinum interactions suggests that such endonuclease attack is primarily at platinum induced inter-strand DNA cross-links.     

Genotoxicity of novel trans-platinum(II) complex with diethyl (pyridin-4-ylmethyl)phosphate in human non-small cell lung cancer cells A549

The dynamic development of metal-containing anticancer drugs has started since the discovery of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). For many years it was believed that trans platinum(II) compounds were non-active as antitumour agents because trans-diamminedichloroplatinum is biologically inactive although it binds to DNA and also forms monoadducts and cross-links. In the present work the ability of a novel platinum(II) compound trans-[PtCl(2)(4-pmOpe)(2)] to induce DNA damage in human non-small cell lung cancer cells A549 was examined using the alkaline comet assay. The obtained results revealed that the novel trans platinum(II) complex induced DNA strand breaks, which were effectively repaired during 2h of post-incubation, and cross-links which remained unrepaired under these test conditions. Apart from that, the modified comet assay with incubation with proteinase K was used to verify the ability of trans-[PtCl(2)(4-pmOpe)(2)] and cis-DDP to form DNA-protein cross-links. It has been proved that only trans-[PtCl(2)(4-pmOpe)(2)] complex exhibits the ability to induce DNA-protein cross-links. The results suggest a different mechanism of action of this compound in comparison to cis-DDP. It seems that trans geometry and the presence of two diethyl (pyridin-4-ylmethyl)phosphates as non-leaving ligands can determine dissimilar properties of the adducts formed on DNA and the different mechanism of action of trans-[PtCl(2)(4-pmOpe)(2)] and in consequence the efficacy in killing cancer cells.     

Detection of cellular platinum using the monoclonal antibody 1C1

A monoclonal antibody, 1C1, developed using a trans-R,R-1,2-diamminocyclohexane (DACH) modified platinum analog (DACH-Pt-SO4) complexed with DNA was shown, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), to have the ability to bind to both free drug DACH-Pt-SO4 and to the drug-DNA complex. Using competitive ELISA, 1C1 was found to recognize non-DACH-containing platinum compounds, such as cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II) (CDDP). 1C1 exhibited strong binding to slot-blotted, DACH-Pt-SO4-treated DNA and moderate binding to the CDDP-DNA complex, but was unable to detect DACH containing methyliminodiacetato-trans-R,R-1,2-diamminocyclohexane platinum (II) (MIDP)-modified DNA. Immunocytochemical staining studies using 1C1 antibody on CDDP-treated BRO melanoma cells showed preferential staining of the cytosol compared with the nucleus. Although the extent of staining was dose dependent, a heterogeneous staining pattern was observed. Multicellular spheroids of MDA886LN squamous carcinoma cells treated with CDDP showed intense staining on the growing periphery compared with weak but homogeneous staining within the spheroid. Cell cycle-dependent uptake of CDDP in synchronized BRO cells may partly explain the observed heterogeneity of platinum distribution.     

Renaturation effects of cis and trans platinum II and IV compounds on calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid.

The effects of cis dichlorodiammine platinum [cis Pt(II)], trans dichlorodiammine platinum (trans Pt(II)], cis tetrachlorodiammine platinum [cis Pt(IV)], trans tetrachlorodiammine platinum [trans Pt(IV)], and ethylenediaminedichloride platinum [Pt(II)en] on the absorption spectra, and thermal hyper- and hypochromicity of calf thymus DNA were investigated. Platinum-induced renaturation was studied as one parameter of interstrand cross-linking. Based on a DNA cross-linking hypothesis, the tumor-inhibitory platinum compounds cis Pt(II), cis Pt(IV) and Pt(II)en would be expected to induce renaturation following thermal denaturation, whereas the ineffective drugs, trans Pt(II) and trans Pt(IV) would not. All five bind to DNA in such a way as to induce renaturation. However, cis Pt(IV) requires at least a 3- to 4-fold longer incubation time than is required by the other compounds to form the coordination bonds necessary for renaturation. Maximum renaturation with all compounds was observed at a molar Pt/base ratio of 0.05 except cis Pt(IV), with which it was 0.25. The rate of the formation of the platinum-coordinated cross-links by fresh cis Pt(II) suggests two reactions or types of reactions occur. The first is rapid and destabilizes the DNA helix, whereas the second is slow and responsible for renaturation following thermal denaturation. These results suggest that cis Pt(IV) may be activated cellularly and that cross-linking is not the primary mechanism of action of the tumor-inhibitory platinum compounds.     

The interaction of an anti-tumour platinum complex with DNA.

The interaction of the anti-tumour active cis platinum (II) complexes with DNA has been investigated using dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II) and E. coli DNA. Equilibrium dialysis studies indicate that Pt(en)Cl2 binds reversibly to DNA to a saturation value of 0.57 Pt: P, which is consistent with the platinum being bound both monofunctionally and bifunctionally. Pt(en)Cl2 inhibits the intercalation of 9-aminoacridine (9AA) by cross-linking the bases of the double helix, but at no stage does all the bound platinum cross-link. It is suggested that this inhibition of intercalation is due to intrastrand cross-linking.