31P NMR and viscometric studies of the interaction of meso-tetra(4-N-methylpyridyl) porphine and its Ni(II) and Zn(II) derivatives with DNA.

The interactions of meso-tetra(4-N-methylpyridyl) porphine (TMPyP) and its Zn(II) and Ni(II) derivatives with DNA have been investigated by 31P NMR and viscometric titrations. TMPyP and its Ni derivative increase the viscosity of linear DNA, cause unwinding and reverse coiling of superhelical DNA, and induce a separate downfield peak in the 31P NMR spectrum of DNA. The Zn derivative slightly decreases the viscosity of linear DNA, does not unwind superhelical DNA, and does not give a downfield NMR peak. The main DNA 31P NMR signal is shifted slightly upfield on either the addition of TMPyP or the Ni compound. These results indicate that TMPyP and the Ni(II), but not the Zn(II), derivative bind to DNA by intercalation.