Fluorescent complexes of DNA with DAPI 4',6-diamidine-2-phenyl indole.2HCl or DCI 4',6-dicarboxyamide-2-phenyl indole

4',6-Dioarboxyamide-2-phenyl indole (DCI), a non-ionic structural analogue of 4',6-diamidine-2-phenyl indole.2HCl (DAPI), was synthesized in order to verify the hypothesis of intercalation of both dyes into the DNA double helix. The influence of pH, viscosity, and different concentrations of SDS (sodium dodecylsulphate) or NaCl on the optical and fluorescent properties and the changes in thermal transition of both dye complexes with DNA confirm the affinity of the dyes to the double helix as well as their stabilizing influence on the secondary DNA structure. The results of binding studies, carried out by fluorescent methods have shown that the dyes are strongly bound to DNA, though the number of binding sites is small. According to the experimental data, the fluorescent properties of DAPI and DCI complexes with DNA are connected with the intercalating binding mechanism of these dyes. On the other hand, the eventual ionic or hydrogen bonds of dyes outside the DNA helix do not change noticeably their fluorescent properties.