Computer Simulation of the Binding of Naphthyridinomycin and Cyanocycline A to DNA

Abstract

Cyanocycline A was found to have a pKa of 6.6. Protonation of N14 was established by 1H NMR spectroscopy. In strongly acidic solution the oxazolidine ring opened irreversibly. A model was derived for the binding of naphthyridinomycin and cyanocycline A to the hexanucleotide duplex d(ATGCAT)2, by using the molecular mechanics and dynamics modules of AMBER 3.0. It involved protonation on the oxazolidine-ring nitrogen, reduction of the quinone ring to a hydroquinone, formation of an iminium ion with loss of the C7 substituent, noncovalent binding in the minor groove with the hydroquinone ring in the 3′-direction from guanine, and covalent binding to the 2-amino group of this guanine with C7 ado..