23Na NMR relaxation studies of the Na-DNA/drug interaction.

This Minireview covers the methodological approaches of (23)Na NMR spectroscopy to the study of the structure and dynamics of the DNA molecule, in particular the application of the (23)Na NMR quadrupolar relaxation to investigate the perturbations on the polyion surface due to exogenous agents. A brief description of the (23)Na NMR quadrupolar relaxation and of the models used to describe the distribution of counterions around DNA, and the results of the application of the (23)Na NMR relaxation to the study of the cation-DNA interaction are also shown. Following sections present results of the investigation on ligand-DNA interaction and on ordered DNA systems.