In the search of new DNA groove binding agents a series of substituted 9,10-methylpyridiniumanthracenes have been synthesized and their interactions with DNA have been studied by UV/vis absorption, CD and fluorescence spectroscopy. A minor groove binding mode is confirmed by DNA melting studies, strong CD effects, the dependence of the binding affinity on ionic strength, and the differentiation between AT and GC base pairs. No binding occurs to GC sequences. Binding constants to calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and poly(dA:dT) in the range between 1 × 10⁴ and 3 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ have been determined. The binding strength decreases with the size of substituents attached at the anthracene site. Variation of the substitution pattern of the charged groups shows that methyl groups in meta position cause slightly stronger binding than methyl groups in para position. In contrast, with these groups in ortho position, no binding interaction has been observed. The strongest binding is achieved with an expansion of the peripheral heterocycle from pyridine to quinoline. Molecular modeling reveals the pivotal role of the substitution pattern: Anthracenes with para and meta pyridines align along the minor grooves. On the other hand, the ortho derivative adopts no groove-alignment.

在寻找新的DNA凹槽结合剂中，已经合成了一系列取代的9,10-甲基吡啶鎓蒽，并通过紫外/可见吸收，CD和荧光光谱研究了它们与DNA的相互作用。DNA熔解研究，强CD效应，结合亲和力对离子强度的依赖性以及AT和GC碱基对之间的区别证实了小沟结合模式。没有结合发生到GC序列。与小牛胸腺DNA（ct-DNA）和poly（dA：dT）的结合常数在1×10 ⁴和3×10 ⁵ M ^-1之间已经确定。结合强度随连接在蒽位点上的取代基的大小而降低。带电基团的取代模式的变化表明，间位的甲基比对位的甲基引起更强的结合。相反，这些基团在邻位时，未观察到结合相互作用。通过外围杂环从吡啶到喹啉的扩展，实现最强的结合。分子建模揭示了取代模式的关键作用：具有对位和间位吡啶的蒽沿小沟排列。另一方面，邻位 导数不采用凹槽对齐。