G. Dodin et al., THE LINKING CHAIN-LENGTH IN BRIDGED ALDEHYDE-SUBSTITUTED PYRIDINIUM DIMERS MODULATES A SLOW REVERSIBLE BINDING THAT AFFECTS SUPERCOILING OFPLASMID DNA, Anti-cancer drug design, 8(5), 1993, pp. 361-368
Bridged aldehyde substituted pyridinium dimers bind to DNA. Binding in
duces retardation of the electrophoretic migration of circular plasmid
due to relaxation of supercoiling. Binding to DNA is slow and reversi
ble and depends on the length of linking chain, pH, ionic strength and
temperature. It is postulated that release of topological stress resu
lts from the disruption of hydrogen bonding between complementary base
s, a hypothesis consistent with facilitated attack of DNA by formaldeh
yde promoted by the bridged compounds.