The interaction of DNA with intercalating agents probed by sodium-23 NMR relaxation rates

We have investigated the changes of Na-23 NMR spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation rates of Na-DNA in dilute aqueous solutions, induced by the intercalating drugs ethidium, propidium, 6,7-dihydro-pyrido[2',1':3,4]pyrazino[1,2-f]-phenanthridinediium dihydrate (dq2pyp) and by the electrostatic binder Mg2+. It has been found that the Na-23 spin-lattice relaxation is monoexponential, while the spin-spin relaxation follows a biexponential law. From the linear trends of the relaxation rates observed in the titration experiments of Na-DNA with the drugs we inferred the validity of a two-site model in the fast exchange limit. The relaxation rates of sodium in the bound state have been estimated by using the fraction of bound sodium ions per phosphate charge, predicted by the counterion condensation theory, and the number of sodium ions released per bound drug, calculated from salt dependent equilibrium binding studies.