Denaturation level of DNA-Pt complexes evidenced by Tb3+ fluorescence enhancement and electric dichroism.

The Tb3+ fluorescence is greatly enhanced, as a result of binding of various platinum coordination complexes to DNA, as compared to native DNA. The largest enhancement is observed for cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 but the fluorescence intensity does not however reach the level attained for thermally denatured DNA. Diethylenetriamine-Pt(II) produces very little increase of Tb3+ fluorescence. The electric dichroism in the DNA absorption band drastically decreases upon binding of the various Pt compounds investigated except diethylenetriamine-Pt. The results are discussed in terms of the various modes of binding of Pt derivatives to DNA, particularly in relation to the level of denaturation of the double helix.