Interaction of the Water-Soluble Carcinogen 4-Nitroquinoline <i>N</i> -Oxide with DNA

Abstract

Thin-layer chromatography revealed that 4-nitroquinoline N -oxide interacts with native DNA, but not with denatured DNA's or the following macromolecules and nucleic acid derivatives: soluble RNA from Escherichia coli and from yeast, polyguanylate-cytidylate, and precursors of DNA and RNA. Polydeoxyadenylate-thymidylate, polyadenylate, and histone interacted to a lesser degree than native DNA's did. That magnesium ion, sodium ion, and proflavine did not interfere with interaction of carcinogen and DNA suggests that this interaction is not an intercalation. Interaction of 4-nitroquinoline N -oxide with DNA may be related to its carcinogenicity.