Electrochemical studies of NiTMpyP and interaction with DNA

In this paper, cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and chronocoulometry in connection with the hang mercury drop electrode were used to study NiTMpyP and its mixture with DNA. The reduction of NiTMpyP in our experimental conditions involves in 4e reduction of TMpyP. NiTMpyP interacting with DNA forms electrochemically non-active complex DNA-2NiTMpyP, which can not be reduced on the Hg electrode. The peak potential of NiTMpyP does not shift and its electrochemical kinetic parameters indicate no significant change in the presence of DNA. However, the reduction current of NiTMpyP decreases obviously due to the formation of DNA-2NiTMpyP, which implies its equilibrium concentration decreases when DNA was mixed. The decrease of peak current is proportional to DNA concentration, which can be applied to estimate DNA concentration. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.