| Abstract
| - The good results obtained in the past decade with various types of potential bisintercalating agents, e.g., LU79553, DMP 840, BisBFI, MCI3335, WMC-26, BisAC, BisPA, and the asymmetrical derivative WMC-79(Chart 1), prompted us to investigate a new series of asymmetrical bisintercalators, compounds 1a−t (Chart2), which can combine the potentiality of bisintercalation with a possible different mechanism of action dueto two diverse chromophores. The DNA-binding properties of these compounds have been examined usingfluorometric techniques: target compounds are excellent DNA ligands, with a clear preference for bindingto AT-rich duplexes. In vitro cytotoxicity of these derivatives toward human hormone-refractory prostateadenocarcinoma cell line (PC-3) is described. Apoptosis assays of four selected compounds are also reported.Very potent cytotoxic compounds, some of them capable of inducing early apoptosis, have been identified.
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