DNA fluorescence induced by polymethine cation pyrvinium binding

Pyrvinium is a polymethine cation which shows interesting fluorescence emission and DNA binding properties. In diluted aqueous solution, pyrvinium pamoate induced a bright yellow fluorescence in kinetoplast DNA from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes as well as in chicken erythrocyte nuclei under a wide range of excitations. No fading was observed after mounting in suitable media. Spectroscopic studies on pyrvinium solutions revealed bathochromic and hypochromic shifts in the absorption spectrum of its complex with DNA. A striking enhancement of pyrvinium fluorescence was found in solvents of high viscosity or after binding to DNA. Experimental results and the chemical structure of pyrvinium allow us to suggest that the minor groove of adenine-thymine DNA regions could be the specific binding site for this new DNA fluorochrome.