Orientation of non-blue cupric complexes on DNA fibers

Three different orientations of non-blue, type 2 cupric complexes on DNA fibers are obtained from EPR data. The cupric complex of bleomycin, CuBlm, binds as described previously (Shields, H., McGlumphy,C., and Hamrick, P., J., Jr. (1982) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 697, 113-120), except possibly with more restricted motion. The square plane of CuBlm makes an angle of about 65 degrees with the fiber axis. The tridentate complex 2-formylpyridine monothiosemicarbazonato Cu2+ binds with its planar structure perpendicular to the fiber axis. In contrast, other tridentate cupric complexes of tripeptides, CuGHK and CuGHG, bind with the square plane parallel to the fiber axis. The bound forms of Cu(GHK) and Cu(GHG) are determined mostly by the GH moiety in the complex; the contribution of lysine in defining the orientation of the copper moiety is minimal. Thus, the structure of the ligand determines the orientation of these complexes on DNA.