DNA-binding studies of fluoxetine antidepressant

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant that is widely prescribed. The DNA-binding behavior of fluoxetine antidepressant and calf thymus DNA was investigated in Tris-HCl buffer at physiological pH 7.4 with a series of techniques, including UV-Vis and circular dichroism spectroscopies, competitive study with Hoechst 33258, viscometry, and cyclic voltammetry. Fluoxetine molecules bind to DNA via groove mode as illustrated by hypochromism with no red shift in the UV absorption band of fluoxetine, decrease in Hoechst-DNA solution fluorescence, and no significant changes in viscosity of DNA. The CD spectra of DNA molecules show a little change in stacking mode of base pair but no modification changes in DNA conformation, for example, from B-DNA to A or C-DNA. The binding constant (K(b)) of DNA with fluoxetine was calculated to be 6.7 × 10(4) M(-1), which is in the range of reported and known groove binders, such as distamycin. All results showed the groove-binding mode of interaction of fluoxetine with DNA.