Noncovalent DNA binding of bis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I) and related compounds

The noncovalent DNA binding of the bis(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I) complex [(Phen)2CuI] was examined under anaerobic conditions by absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy, and viscometry, as a function of phenanthroline concentration. Analyses according to the McGhee-von Hippel method indicated that binding exhibited both neighbor-exclusion and positive cooperativity effects, with a neighbor-exclusion parameter n approximately 2 and a cooperativity parameter omega approximately 4. The association constant for (Phen)2CuI binding decreased with increasing concentration of phenanthroline in excess over that required to stoichiometrically generate (Phen)2CuI, indicating that free phenanthroline was a weak competitive inhibitor of (Phen)2CuI binding. The maximal association constant for DNA binding of (Phen)2CuI in 0.2 M NaCl and 9.8% ethanol, extrapolated to zero concentration of excess phenanthroline, was 4.7 x 10(4) M-1 (DNA base pairs). The magnitude of the neighbor-exclusion parameter, the changes in spectral properties of (Phen)2CuI induced by DNA binding, and the increase in DNA solution viscosity upon (Phen)2CuI addition are consistent with a model for DNA binding by (Phen)2CuI involving partial intercalation of one phenanthroline ring of the complex between DNA base pairs in the minor groove as suggested previously [Veal & Rill (1989) Biochemistry 28, 3243-3250]. Viscosity measurements indicated that the mono(phenanthroline)copper(I) complex also binds to DNA by intercalation; however, no spectroscopic or viscometric evidence was found for DNA binding of free phenanthroline or the bis(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I) complex. DNA binding of free phenanthroline may be cooperative and induced by prior binding of (Phen)2CuI.