Fluorescence spectral study of interaction of water-soluble metal complexes of Schiff-base and DNA

The fluorescence spectral characteristics and the interaction of several wa ter-soluble metal complexes of Schiff-base with DNA are described. Among th e complexes tested, Mn-Schiff-base bound to DNA showed a marked decrease in the fluorescence intensity with a blue shift of the excitation and emissio n peaks. Some hypochromism in the UV absorption spectra was also observed. KI quenching and competitive binding to DNA between Mn-Schiff-base and ethi dium bromide (EB) were studied in connection with other experimental observ ations to show that the interactive model between Mn-Schiff-base and DNA is an intercalative one. The pH and salt effect on the fluorescence propertie s was also investigated. The linear relationship between F/F-0 and the conc entration of calf thymus DNA covers 3.0 x 10(-6) - 2 x 10(-4) mol L-1, whic h can be utilized for determining traces of calf thymus DNA with a detectio n limit of 8.0 x 10(-7) mol L-1 in base pairs.