Self-association of daunomycin antibiotic in various buffer solutions

The self-association of an antitumor antibiotic, daunomycin (DAU), in various buffer solutions, including water-salt solutions, phosphate buffer, HEPES, and TRIS, was studied by 1D and 2D H-1 NMR spectroscopy at 500 MHz. The two-dimensional NOESY spectra and the concentration and temperature dependences of the chemical shifts of antibiotic protons in the solvents studied showed that the self-association parameters of DAU were independent of the type of buffer solutions. The most probable two spatial structures of the dimer of DAU in solution were constructed by the method of molecular mechanics. The mutual orientation of the chromophores was parallel in one structure and antiparallel in the other.