Behavior in Solution and Mixing Ratio-Dependent Binding Modes of Carcinogenic Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione to Calf Thymus DNA

The behavior of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione (BPQ) in aqueous solution and its interaction with native DNA was investigated using conventional absorption and linear dichroism (LD) spectroscopy. The appearance of a broad absorption maximum at long wavelengths and its proportional relationship to solvent polarizability suggested that BPQ adopts a aggregated state for all solutions examined. Disappearance of this absorption band at higher temperatures in aqueous solution also supported BPQ aggregation. When associated with DNA absorption spectral properties were essentially the same as that in aqueous solution. However, two isosbestic wavelengths were found in the concentration-dependent absorption spectrum of the BPQ-DNA complex, suggesting the presence of at least two or more DNA-bound BPQ species. Both species produced $LD^r$ spectra whose magnitude in BPQ absorption region is larger or comparable to that in the DNA absorption region, suggesting that the molecular BPQ plane is near perpendicular relative to the local DNA helical axis. Therefore, BPQ molecules are aligned along the DNA stem in both DNA-aggregated BPQ species.