Molecular orbital calculations on the oligopeptides netropsin, distamycin and related compounds

The electronic structure of the antibiotics netropsin, distamycin A, and related compounds has been examined by various theoretical models. Calculations of both the Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) and the semiempirical CNDO/S types can account for the absorption spectrum of netropsin and distamycin A. The CD spectrum has been calculated for the conformation of netropsin found in the crystal structure of a netropsin/DNA dodecamer. Not all the CD spectral features can be attributed entirely to the chiral conformation of netropsin, indicating that there are significant interactions between netropsin and DNA. A CD calculation was also performed for distamycin A in a similar conformation. An examination of the charge-density maps of the excited states suggests that there is substantial charge transfer from the pyrrole ring to either of the adjacent peptide linkages in these systems. At higher energies, even longer distance charge transfer can be observed. Similar behavior was seen in the monomers pyrrole-2-carboxamide and 3-(formylamino)pyrrole.