Oxaliplatin effects on the DNA molecule studied by force spectroscopy

In the present study we investigated the binding of the anticancer compound Oxaliplatin to DNA. Using optical tweezers to perform single molecule force spectroscopy, we determined the changes of the mechanical parameters of DNA complexes formed with Oxaliplatin, at high and low ionic strengths. The interaction mechanism and the physical chemistry of the binding were determined from these measurements. In addition, kinetic information on covalent diadduct formation and on DNA compaction by Oxaliplatin were also obtained. All these results were critically compared to those obtained for the related anti-neoplastic compounds Cisplatin and Carboplatin, previously determined under similar experimental conditions. These results provide new information about the action of platinum-based compounds on DNA, being useful to the improvement of current chemotherapies and to the design of novel correlated drugs.