Induced CD of DNA intercalators: electric dipole allowed transitions

The induced CD of an electric dipole allowed transition of a DNA intercalator has been calculated using the “matrix method” and a set of DNA ππ* transitions recently adopted for calculating the CD of DNA by Rizzo and Schellman (1984) Biopolymers 23 , 435–470]. The induced CD is strongly dependent on the angular orientation of the intercalator and only moderately dependent on its location within the intercalation pocket. The dependence of the CD on the orientation and location of the intercalator was studied for some representative conformations of di- and tetranucleotide duplexes of (dGdC) and (dAdT). The effect of alternative DNA transition moment directions was also tested. The orientation dependence compares well with the previously predicted 1-2 cos² γ dependence B. Nordén and F. Tjerneld (1982) Biopolymers 21 , 1713–1734]. Measured induced CD spectra of methylene blue (MB) intercalated in double-stranded poly(dAdT), poly(dGdC), and calf-thymus DNA are discussed on the basis of the results of the calculations. Major differences between the induced CD spectra are likely to reflect different modes of intercalation for the different nucleotide sequences. In particular, the concluded geometry in solution for MB intercalated in poly(dAdT) differs significantly from the corresponding geometry found in dinucleotide–intercalator crystals.