Base sequence selectivity in binding of aromatic hydrocarbons with synthetic polynucleotides

The interactions between DOBP (3) and calf thymus DNA as well as four synthetic polynucleotides, poly(dA-dT), polydA:polydT, poly(dG-dC), and polydG:polydC, were investigated by spectroscopic techniques. It was found that the binding of 3 with poly(dA-dT) is favored appreciably over other synthetic polynucleotides and DNA. The results suggest that the initial association of carcinogenic BPDE (2) with DNA may take place preferentially at certain specific base sequences in DNA.