Interactions of nucleic acids with distamycins. Binding of Dst-3 to d(CGTTTAAACG)2 and d(CGTACGTACG)2.

The binding between Distamycin 3 and the palindromic duplexes d(CGTTTAAACG)2 and d(CGTACGTACG)2 was investigated by two independent techniques: UV-Vis absorption in the Job's plot approach and Induced Circular Dichroism. Both decamers bind two molecules of peptide per duplex, with close overall affinities. This result indicates that a row of six A:T base pairs can accommodate two molecules of drug and that the minimal binding site of Distamycin 3 can consist of just two A:T base pairs.