No description available.

Pyrethroids are the only class of insecticides approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use in insecticide treated nets (ITNs), the first line of malaria vector control. Widespread resistance development to pyrethroids undermines current control efforts, and hence an urgent need for alternative chemistries. I report the evaluation of pharmacological differences between insect and vertebrate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as well as selectivity and toxicity testing of new carbamate insecticides on Anopheles gambiae, the African malaria mosquito. AChE gorge pharmacology data revealed differences between insect and vertebrate AChE that can be exploited in the design of a bivalent insecticide. Toxicokinetic analysis showed that metabolic detoxication and cuticular penetration affect toxicity of carbamates in a manner dependent on the chemical structure. Structure activity relationships of side-chain branched N-methylcarbamates emphasized the importance of structural complementarity of ligands to the AChE catalytic active site and the substrate, acetylcholine. Monovalent pyrazoles and acetophenone oxime carbamates were toxic to both susceptible and carbamate-resistant mosquitoes carrying a G119S mutation within the catalytic site. A bivalent phthalimide-pyrazole carbamate and sulfenylated phenyl N-methyl carbamates were highly toxic when topically applied onto insect but less toxic by treated filter paper assays. In vitro evaluation of a molecular mosquito-selectivity model using AChE peripheral site ligands confirmed that selectivity of PRC 472 was due to presence of I70 in mosquito, which is Y70 in human AChE. The findings presented here are important steps in the on-going search of a mosquito-selective and resistance mitigating carbamate insecticide for control of malaria mosquitoes. / Ph. D.

Myriad small molecule compounds targeting metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) have been investigated for the treatment of various neuropsychiatric diseases and displayed promise in preclinical studies. At the clinical level, many of these compounds have been well tolerated by human subjects but have eluded success as promising therapeutics. There are eight subtypes of mGluRs, which express as constitutive dimers. This dimerization can occur between identical (homodimerization) or different (heterodimerization) mGluR protomer subtypes, which are subject to pairing-specific signaling mechanisms. Subtype expression of mGluRs is heterogenous between brain regions and cell types, yielding probable cell-specific homo- and heterodimer combinations that respond differently to certain drugs. While G protein recruitment to active mGluR dimers has been studied extensively, little is known about arrestin recruitment to these receptors. I used bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays, which provide a quantitative measure of protein-protein proximity, to observe and quantify arrestin recruitment to specific mGluR subtype pairings upon ligand administration in heterologous cells. I studied how select allosteric ligands affect communication between protomers to enhance arrestin recruitment to dimers. My findings indicate that arrestin recruitment occurs only at select mGluR homodimers upon orthosteric stimulation but is frequently stimulated or enhanced by administration of activating allosteric ligands. Additionally, I found that trans-protomer communication is highly specific to mGluR protomer subtype pairings, the ligand administered,a nd inter-protomer signal direction. Lastly, my findings reveal a cooperative effect of mGluR2 and 3 heterodimerization on arrestin recruitment that is dependent on the functional ability of each protomer to bind orthosteric agonist and responds distinctively from homodimers to stimulation by certain allosteric ligands. Taken together, this work shows that mGluR signaling can be tuned using strategic pharmacology and energizes hope for future clinical success of mGluR-targeting ligands.

Neste trabalho, dois óxidos de metal de transição com ordem magnética de longo alcance e uma polianilina dopada com plastificante foram estudados através da técnica de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica. O sistema multiferróico óxido de bismuto-manganês, BiMn2O5, foi estudado em sua forma policristalina. Este material apresenta modos de ressonância antiferromagnética que foram identificados a partir de medidas multifrequência em altos campos magnéticos. Estes dados foram ajustados segundo a teoria de Yosida e Nagamiya da ressonância antiferromagnética para obtenção das constantes macroscópicas de anisotropia magnética K1=7.0 x 108 emu Oe mol1 e K2=3.9 x 108 emu Oe mol1, a partir das quais uma estimativa da constate de anisotropia microscópica foi determinada. A caracterização destas grandezas pode ser importante para trabalhos futuros, uma vez que a anisotropia magnética é considerada uma das causas da magnetoelasticidade que dá origem a ferroeletricidade neste material. A ludwigita homometálica de ferro, Fe3O2BO3, foi estudada em sua forma monocristalina. Este óxido de ferro possui uma estrutura com duas sub-redes de ferro praticamente independentes, que se ordenam magneticamente em temperaturas distintas, além de apresentar correlações eletrônicas desde temperatura ambiente. A existência dessas correlações numa dessas estruturas, conhecida como \"escada de três pernas\", foi demonstrada através do espectro de RPE associado com a existência de dímeros Fe3+-Fe2+ nessa estrutura, desde temperatura ambiente até baixas temperaturas. Mostrou-se que os dímeros formam um estado antiferromagneticamente acoplado sujeito a interação de troca dupla, estimando valores da integral de transferência de carga b. Medidas de RPE em filmes automontados de polianilinas dopadas com plastificantes sugerem a população e despopulação de um estado tripleto a partir dos parâmetros dos espectros em função da temperatura, típica de dímeros de spin 1. Diferenças nos parâmetros com ciclagens térmicas sugere o congelamento da estrutura em diferentes estados condizente com a existência de termocromismo nesses polímeros. Enfim, demonstrou-se a relevância da técnica de espectroscopia de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica na caracterização de sistemas sujeitos a interação de troca antiferromagnética. / In this work, two transition metal oxides presenting long range magnetic order and a plastdoped polyaniline were investigated via electron paramagnetic resonance. Polycrystalline samples of the multiferroic manganese oxide, BiMn2O5, showed antiferromagnetic resonance modes which were identified from high magnetic fields multi frequency electron paramagnetic resonance. These data were fitted according to Yosida and Nagamiya theory of antiferromagnetic resonance. The macroscopic constants of magnetic anisotropy K1=7.0 x 108 emu Oe mol1 and K2=3.9 x 108 emu Oe mol1 were obtained from this fitting and allowed for estimating the microscopic constant of anisotropy. Magnetic anisotropy may lead to magnetoelasticity, which is related to the ferroelectricity in this material. Thus, the characterization of this physical quantities may be useful to future research. Single crystals of a homometallic iron ludwigite, Fe3O2BO3, were investigated in its distinct magnetic phases. This system has two independent iron sub-lattices which order magnetically in two distinct temperatures, presenting electronic correlations from room temperature. Despite the broad and superposed lines in the EPR spectra, the presence of such correlations was demonstrated in one of these structures, which is known as three leg ladders (3LL). A dimer Fe3+-Fe2+ was identified at room temperature, showing an antiferromagnetically coupled state subjected to double exchange interactions. The charge transfer integral b was estimated. Temperature sweep EPR measurements in films of plastdoped polyanilines suggested the population and depopulation if a triplet state typical of spin 1 dimers. Differences in the parameters after thermal cycling suggested the freezing of the structure at different states in accordance to observed thermocromism in these polymers. In conclusion, the relevance of the EPR technique was demonstrated to the characterization of exchange coupled systems.

Molecular capsules consist of two or more molecules that bind through either covalent or noncovalent interactions to form a structure with an internal void capable of containing guest molecules. These capsules can be used in catalysis/biocatalysis, in drug transport and delivery, in supramolecular arrays, and to stabilize reactive intermediates. Cavitands and calix[4]arenes are two types of macrocycles that have been used to form molecular capsules. Cavitands are used to form capsules called carceplexes, hemicarceplexes, and hemicarcerands through covalent bonds when two molecules are bridged together rim to rim. Calix[4]arene derivatives self-assemble reversibly through noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding and ionic bonding to form capsules. Capsules formed form cavitands and calix[4]arenes have been shown to encapsulate a variety of guest molecules in nonpolar solvents. In order for the capsules to be used for biological applications, the capsules need to encapsulate guest molecules in water. There are only a few examples of capsules that encapsulate guests in polar solvents. Calix[4]arenes derivatives substituted with charged substituents on the upper rim and propyl groups on the lower rim were synthesized. These derivatives dimerize through ionic interactions in polar solvents forming both heterodimers and homodimers. These dimers will be used to encapsulate various guest molecules. Although the ionic propoxycalix[4]arene monomers are water-soluble, the heterodimers are not. This is due to the shielding of the charges upon assembly leaving only the propyl groups on the lower rim exposed to the polar solvent. To increase dimer solubility in water, calix[4]arene derivatives are being synthesized with hydroxy ethyl groups instead of the propyl groups on the lower rim. When the charged hydroxyethoxycalix[4]arene derivatives dimerize, the alcohols will be exposed to the polar solvent instead of the propyl groups increasing the water-solubility of the capsules.

Neste trabalho, dois óxidos de metal de transição com ordem magnética de longo alcance e uma polianilina dopada com plastificante foram estudados através da técnica de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica. O sistema multiferróico óxido de bismuto-manganês, BiMn2O5, foi estudado em sua forma policristalina. Este material apresenta modos de ressonância antiferromagnética que foram identificados a partir de medidas multifrequência em altos campos magnéticos. Estes dados foram ajustados segundo a teoria de Yosida e Nagamiya da ressonância antiferromagnética para obtenção das constantes macroscópicas de anisotropia magnética K1=7.0 x 108 emu Oe mol1 e K2=3.9 x 108 emu Oe mol1, a partir das quais uma estimativa da constate de anisotropia microscópica foi determinada. A caracterização destas grandezas pode ser importante para trabalhos futuros, uma vez que a anisotropia magnética é considerada uma das causas da magnetoelasticidade que dá origem a ferroeletricidade neste material. A ludwigita homometálica de ferro, Fe3O2BO3, foi estudada em sua forma monocristalina. Este óxido de ferro possui uma estrutura com duas sub-redes de ferro praticamente independentes, que se ordenam magneticamente em temperaturas distintas, além de apresentar correlações eletrônicas desde temperatura ambiente. A existência dessas correlações numa dessas estruturas, conhecida como \"escada de três pernas\", foi demonstrada através do espectro de RPE associado com a existência de dímeros Fe3+-Fe2+ nessa estrutura, desde temperatura ambiente até baixas temperaturas. Mostrou-se que os dímeros formam um estado antiferromagneticamente acoplado sujeito a interação de troca dupla, estimando valores da integral de transferência de carga b. Medidas de RPE em filmes automontados de polianilinas dopadas com plastificantes sugerem a população e despopulação de um estado tripleto a partir dos parâmetros dos espectros em função da temperatura, típica de dímeros de spin 1. Diferenças nos parâmetros com ciclagens térmicas sugere o congelamento da estrutura em diferentes estados condizente com a existência de termocromismo nesses polímeros. Enfim, demonstrou-se a relevância da técnica de espectroscopia de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica na caracterização de sistemas sujeitos a interação de troca antiferromagnética. / In this work, two transition metal oxides presenting long range magnetic order and a plastdoped polyaniline were investigated via electron paramagnetic resonance. Polycrystalline samples of the multiferroic manganese oxide, BiMn2O5, showed antiferromagnetic resonance modes which were identified from high magnetic fields multi frequency electron paramagnetic resonance. These data were fitted according to Yosida and Nagamiya theory of antiferromagnetic resonance. The macroscopic constants of magnetic anisotropy K1=7.0 x 108 emu Oe mol1 and K2=3.9 x 108 emu Oe mol1 were obtained from this fitting and allowed for estimating the microscopic constant of anisotropy. Magnetic anisotropy may lead to magnetoelasticity, which is related to the ferroelectricity in this material. Thus, the characterization of this physical quantities may be useful to future research. Single crystals of a homometallic iron ludwigite, Fe3O2BO3, were investigated in its distinct magnetic phases. This system has two independent iron sub-lattices which order magnetically in two distinct temperatures, presenting electronic correlations from room temperature. Despite the broad and superposed lines in the EPR spectra, the presence of such correlations was demonstrated in one of these structures, which is known as three leg ladders (3LL). A dimer Fe3+-Fe2+ was identified at room temperature, showing an antiferromagnetically coupled state subjected to double exchange interactions. The charge transfer integral b was estimated. Temperature sweep EPR measurements in films of plastdoped polyanilines suggested the population and depopulation if a triplet state typical of spin 1 dimers. Differences in the parameters after thermal cycling suggested the freezing of the structure at different states in accordance to observed thermocromism in these polymers. In conclusion, the relevance of the EPR technique was demonstrated to the characterization of exchange coupled systems.

No description available.

CCR5 est un récepteur couplé aux protéines G répondant aux CC-chimiokines MIP-1&61537; MIP-1&61538; RANTES et MCP-1. Le récepteur structurellement le plus proche est CCR2b, qui répond à MCP-1. CCR5 est exprimé à la surface des lymphocytes T mémoire, les monocytes, macrophages et cellules dendritiques. Ce récepteur joue un rôle important dans l'établissement des réponses inflammatoires contre les agents pathogènes, mais aussi dans la pathogenèse de maladies inflammatoires chroniques. CCR5 constitue aussi avec CXCR4 un des co-récepteurs qui permettent l'entrée du virus de l'immunodéficience humaine dans ses cellules cibles. CCR5 présente donc un grand intérêt en thérapeutique, et tous les éléments susceptibles de mieux comprendre sa structure, ses mécanismes d'activation ou ses cascades de signalisation sont à même de contribuer au développement d'agents à usage thérapeutique.<p>Deux nouveaux concepts sont apparus dans la littérature au cours des quelques années qui ont précédé le début de notre travail. D'une part, il est apparu que les récepteurs couplés aux protéines G pouvaient interagir directement avec un éventail de partenaires intracellulaires et réguler de cette façon des cascades de signalisation indépendamment des protéines G hétérotrimériques. D'autre part, un nombre croissant de récepteurs se sont révélés capables de former des homodimères et des hétérodimères. Nous avons dès lors appliqué ces deux concepts à l'étude de CCR5. <p>Nous avons donc recherché de nouveaux partenaires de CCR5 par deux approches complémentaires, le double hybride et le « GST-pulldown ». Dans les deux cas, nous nous sommes focalisé sur le domaine C-terminal du récepteur CCR5, d'une part parce que la majorité des interactions mises en évidence pour d'autres récepteurs concernent ce domaine, d'autre part parce que l'extrémité C-terminale de CCR5 est conservée dans l'évolution et comporte différents motifs dont la relevance fonctionnelle a été démontrée. Par ailleurs, nous avons appliqués les techniques d’immunoprécipitation et de BRET pour étudier les phénomènes d’homodimérisation de CCR5, ainsi que son hétérodimérisation avec le récepteur apparenté CCR2b. Les conséquences fonctionnelles de ces interactions ont ensuite été étudiées.<p>Par les techniques de double hybride et de pull-down, nous n’avons pas pu identifier de nouveaux partenaires de CCR5. Seules des interactions non-spécifiques ont pu être mises en évidence. Malgré une recherche intensive menée par d’autres groupes, un seul nouveau partenaire de CCR5 a été décrit entre-temps dans la littérature.<p>Lors des études d'oligomérisation de récepteurs, nous avons mis en évidence la formation d'homodimères de CCR5 et CCR2b par des expériences d’immunoprécipitations et de BRET, ainsi que d'hétérodimères CCR5-CCR2b. Les conséquences fonctionnelles de ces observations sur la liaison de chimiokines, la signalisation et l'internalisation des récepteurs ont été étudiées. Contrairement aux données de la littérature, nous n'avons pas montré de coopérativité positive entre les récepteurs co-exprimés, quant à leur capacité à induire la libération de calcium intracellulaire. Par contre, nous avons mis en évidence une coopérativité négative en termes de liaison de chimiokines. Il apparaît ainsi que chaque dimère ne peut lier qu'une seule chimiokine, et qu'en conséquence, les ligands d'un récepteur peuvent entrer en compétition avec la liaison d'un traceur sur l'autre récepteur au sein d'un hétérodimère. Ces dimères de récepteurs apparaissent cependant comme dissociables, suite à la liaison d'agonistes ou de chimiokines induisant leur internalisation, car aucun phénomène de co-internalisation ne peut être mis en évidence. Ces observations, qui sont originales dans le domaine des récepteurs couplés aux protéines G, peuvent sans doute être généralisées à l'ensemble des récepteurs de chimiokines, voire à d'autres classes de récepteurs. Elles sont importantes pour l'interprétation de la pharmacologie des récepteurs dans leur environnement naturel, et sont susceptibles de développements importants permettant de mieux comprendre la structure des dimères, la dynamique de leur association, et les mécanismes d'activation des récepteurs en général au sein de leur structure dimérique. / Doctorat en sciences, Spécialisation biologie moléculaire / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The thesis entitled “Design and Synthesis of Benzimidazole Based Templates in Duplex and Quadruplex DNA Recognition and in Topoisomerase Inhibition” deals with the design and synthesis of several benzimidazole based molecules and their interaction with duplex and quadruplex DNA structures. It also elucidates the inhibition effect of the compounds on the activity of topoisomerase I enzyme of parasitic pathogen Leishmania donovani. The work has been divided into five chapters. Chapter 1: An Introduction to DNA and its Interaction with Small molecules. The first chapter provides an introduction to the double helical structure of DNA and the central dogma that suggests the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. This chapter also presents an overview on the various types of small molecules that interact with duplex and quadruplex structures of DNA or interfere with the activity of DNA targeted enzymes like topoisomerase. This chapter describes the importance of such molecules as chemotherapeutic agents. Chapter 2 deals with three isomeric, symmetrical bisbenzimidazole derivatives bearing pyridine on the two termini. The syntheses, duplex DNA binding and computational structure analyses of the molecules have been divided into two sections. Chapter 2A: Novel Symmetrical Pyridine Derivatized Bisbenzimidazoles: Synthesis and Unique Metal Ion Mediated Tunable DNA Minor Groove Binding. The first chapter deals with the synthesis and double stranded (ds) DNA binding characteristics of the three bisbenzimidazole derivatives. Despite being positional isomers, their relative binding affinities towards ds-DNA varied considerably. Fluorescence, circular dichroism and temperature dependent UV-absorption spectroscopy have been employed to characterize ligand-DNA binding interaction. All spectroscopic studies revealed the strong A-T selective DNA binding affinities of the p- and m-pyridine derivatized molecules (p-pyben and m-pyben respectively) and indicated dramatically weak binding interaction of the ortho derivative (o-pyben) to ds-DNA. Additionally, unique transition metal ion mediated tunable DNA binding shown by o-pyben has been described in this chapter. While the ds-DNA binding characteristics of p- and m-pyben remained unaffected in presence of metal ions, that of o-pyben could be reversibly ‘switched off’ in the presence of divalent transition metal ions like Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+. Addition of EDTA reversed the effects and DNA binding was again observed. This interesting observation provides valuable insight into the DNA recognition property of these isomeric bisbenzimidazole derivatives. Figure 1. Molecular structures of pyridine derivatized symmetrical bisbenzimidazoles. Chapter 2B: Differential Binding of Positional Isomers of Symmetric Bisbenzimidazoles on DNA Minor-Groove: A Computational study. To explain the weak DNA binding affinity of o-pyben, compared to p- or m-pyben, detailed ab initio/DFT computational analyses of the inherent structural features of the three isomers were performed both in the gas-phase and in water. The study revealed the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bond existing in the opyben, between the benzimidazole proton (H3) and the pyridine nitrogen (N1). Additionally, potential energy scans for rotation about the bonds connecting the pyridine-benzimidazole and benzimidazole-benzimidazole fragments were performed. This revealed surprising conformational rigidity existing in the o- isomer that resisted any out-of-plane twisting of the pyridine-benzimidazole fragment. The presence of intramolecular H-bonding was further confirmed by experimental determination of pKa of the three isomers. The molecules being bisbenzimidazole derivatives bound to the minor groove of ds-DNA, the benzimidazole protons forming hydrogen bonded interactions with the DNA bases. However in the o- derivative, the intramolecular hydrogen bonding made the crucial benzimidazole protons unavailable for DNA binding thereby leading to its poor interaction with DNA. Chapter 3. Novel Series of Anthra[1,2-d]imidazole-6,11-dione Derivatives: Synthesis, DNA Binding and Inhibition of Topoisomerase I of Leishmania donovani This chapter describes the synthesis of nine imidazole fused anthraquinone derivatives and their interaction with double-stranded DNA, investigated by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and viscometric titrations. Figure 2. Molecular structures of the imidazole fused anthraquinone derivatives. All the molecules showed intercalative mode of binding to double stranded DNA, though their relative binding affinities were different. Next their inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of topoisomerase I enzyme of Leismania donovani were investigated. L. donovani is the causative agent for human visceral leishmaniasis; a fatal disease affecting liver and spleen. Five out of the nine derivatives tested, proved to be extremely efficient inhibitors of the enzyme. Of them, three showed greater inhibition potency than camptothecin, a well-established topoisomerase I inhibitor and the precursor for several clinically useful anti-tumor drugs. The molecules were shown to inhibit by the stabilization of enzyme-DNA cleavable complex, and the inhibition efficiency was found to be highly dependent on the pKa of the side-chain nitrogen. These results provide useful insights towards developing more potent inhibitors of the parasitic enzyme. As the compounds are synthetically facile, chemically stable and possess long shelf life, they should be attractive candidates for design of novel family of topoisomerase I inhibitor. Indeed the nature of amine based side chain and its pKa would hold the key in such design. Chapter 4 deals with a series of symmetrical bisbenzimidazole derivatives in which the benzimidazole units have been connected via different aromatic linkers. The syntheses, duplex DNA interaction, topoisomerase inhibition and quadruplex DNA stabilization shown by these four molecules have been divided into two sections. Chapter 4A. Synthesis, Duplex DNA Binding and Topoisomerase I Inhibition by Symmetrical Bisbenzimidazole Derivatives with Aromatic Linkers. This chapter describes the synthesis of four symmetrical bisbenzimidazole derivatives bearing aromatic linkers, phenyl, naphthyl or anthryl between the benzimidazole rings. Next their interaction with duplex DNA was investigated using fluorescence and temperature dependent UV absorption spectroscopy and viscometric titration techniques. Addition of DNA caused fluorescence enhancement of the molecules implying their interaction with duplex DNA. All the four molecules on binding to double helical DNA induced thermal stabilization of the latter. Viscometric titration of calf thymus DNA with the four compounds revealed a partial-intercalative mode of binding for the anthracene derivatized molecule 4. Next, their inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of topoisomerase I enzyme were studied. The anthracene derivatized compound (4) showed high inhibition of the enzyme catalyzed relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA. Naphthalene derivatized compound (3) exhibited weak inhibition whereas the derivatives bearing 1,4- and 1,3-disubstitued benzene (1 and 2 respectively) units showed no inhibition. Figure 3. Molecular structures of the symmetrical bisbenzimidazole derivatives. Chapter 4B. Quadruplex DNA Stabilization by Symmetrical Bisbenzimidazole Derivatives with Aromatic Linkers. The ability of the aforementioned molecules to stabilize G-quadruplex structures was investigated next. DNA quadruplex secondary structures are potential molecular targets for new generation chemotherapeutic drugs; hence there is an impetus in developing quadruplex targeting molecules. The Tetrahymena thermophilia telomeric sequence 5´-(T2G4)4-3´ was selected for the studies as it exhibits interesting structural polymorphism depending on whether quadruplex formation occurs in presence of Na+ or K+. Circular dichroism and fluorescence anisotropy techniques were used to study the interaction of these newly synthesized molecules with quadruplex DNA. Also thermal stabilization of quadruplex structure induced by the molecules was determined by temperature dependent UV absorption studies. The compounds 1, 3 and 4 stabilized Na+ induced quadruplex without causing any structural alterations of the latter. However, the m-phenyl linker bearing molecule 2, above a certain [ligand]/[DNA] concentration ratio, caused uniquestructural alteration of the Na+ induced quadruplex such that the CD-signature of the latter resembled that of a K+ induced quadruplex structure. This result was corroborated by quadruplex thermal melting data and fluorescence anisotropy. Interestingly this ligand was also able to induce secondary structure formation in randomly oriented ss-DNA, akin to K+ induced quadruplex structure, even in the absence of Na+ or K+. Chapter 5. Synthesis and DNA Binding of Novel Biscationic Dimers of Bisbenzimidazole Systems. This chapter describes the design, synthesis and ds-DNA binding properties of four dicationic dimers of bisbenzimidazoles. Targeting long base pair sequences in double helical DNA is a key issue in chemical biology and connecting different DNA binding modules by appropriate linkers is an attractive strategy for achieving the same. The precursor monomer unit was a bisbenzimidazole derivative and an analogue of Hoechst 33258. Two such moieties were connected via bisoxyethylenic or 6- or 3-methylenic or piperazinyl units to achieve linker of varying length, rigidity and hydrophilicity. To study the interaction of the dimers with duplex DNA, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy were used. Two of the dimers, (bbim-2ox-bbim and bbim-6met-bbim) bearing long flexible spacers, were able to target 13-AT base pairs long oligonucleotide sequences in a 1:1 binding mode with an affinity 8-10 times better than the precursor monomer or Hoechst 33258. Also thermal denaturation experiments showed high duplex stabilization induced by the same two dimers. All studies indicated a bidentate mode of binding where both the arms of the dimers participated in DNA binding. The molecules bearing the short and rigid linkers (bbim-3met-bbim and bbimpiper- bbim) on the other hand showed low binding affinity towards duplex DNA, as indicated by fluorescence, circular dichroism and thermal melting studies. The short linkers probably did not favor simultaneous binding of both the monomeric arms of the dimers to DNA minor groove. The work reported in this chapter indicates the strong influence of the length and nature of linker in determining drug/DNA binding affinity. Figure 4. Molecular structures of dicationic dimeric bisbenzimidazole derivatives.(Refer PDF File)

No description available.