Netropsin

Abstract

A useful tool for these and related studies would be a small molecule which binds to DNA with a specificity complementary to that of actinomycin D. After surveying a number of likely agents, including nogalamycin, phleomycin, quinacrine, distamytin, and reticulomycin, we concluded that netropsin could best fulfill this requirement.It binds specifically to helical DNA at A-T pairs but not at G-C pairs.It does not intercalate but may cause a structural distortion.