[Formation of various types of complexes upon the interaction of anthraquinones with DNA]

The optical properties (circular and linear dichroism) of the 11 anthraquinone antibiotics complexed with DNA molecules under conditions giving rise to cholesteric liquid-crystalline dispersions were investigated. Complexes of compounds A911 and A912 with double-stranded linear or circular DNA molecules differ strongly in their properties from those of other anthraquinones. The possible reasons of these differences and their possible correlation with the biological activity of the A911 and A912 are discussed.