Design, synthesis and DNA-binding capacity of a new peptidic bifunctional intercalating agent.

A lysyl-lysine bifunctional derivative of 9-aminoacridine has been synthesized and its DNA-binding capacity established by electron-paramagnetic-resonance study. For this purpose the binding parameters of a spin-labelled aminoacridine probe were estimated and the affinities of the lysylacridinyl-lysyldiamino-octane dimer and of 9-amino-acridine could be evaluated by competitive assays. The competition study provided quantitative results concerning the dissociation constant (KD) of the dimer. The obtained value was closely similar to the KD of 9-aminoacridine determined by the same method and to the KD previously reported for the anti-tumour and antibiotic bifunctional intercalator quinomycins.