Interaction of a bioactive pyrazole derivative with calf thymus DNA: Deciphering the mode of binding by multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking investigations

Deoxyribonuclic acid (DNA) is the most relevant intracellular target for a wide variety of anticancer and antibiotic drugs. Elucidating the binding interaction of small bioactive molecules with DNA provides a structural guideline for designing new drugs with improved selectivity and superior clinical efficacy. In the present work interaction of a newly synthesized biologically relevant fluorophore, namely, (E)-1,5-diphenyl-3-styryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole (DSDP) with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) has been investigated vividly through a number of in vitro studies. Noteworthy modifications in the UV-Vis absorption and emission spectra reveal the formation of the probe-ctDNA complex. Several other spectroscopic experiments such as circular dichromism (CD), iodide induced quenching, competitive binding assay with known groove binder probe, 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF), time resolved fluorescence decay measurements, thermometric experiment in connection with the helix melting of ctDNA etc. unequivocally ascertain the groove binding interaction of DSDP with ctDNA. Determination of the thermodynamic parameters through temperature variation study implies the dominant role of hydrophobic interaction in the probe-DNA binding process. Inappreciable change in the CD spectrum of ctDNA with the addition of DSDP suggests that binding of the probe with the DNA does not lead to a significant modification in the DNA conformation. In-silico molecular docking simulation corroborates the experimental findings and depicts that DSDP favorably binds to the minor groove region of the biomacromolecule.