Molecular Recognition of DNA by Hoechst Benzimidazoles: Exploring Beyond the Pyrrole-Imidazole-Hydroxypyrrole Polyamide-Pairing Code

A series of three‐ring analogs of the minor‐groove‐binding molecule Hoechst 33258 (1), consisting of benzimidazole (B), imidazopyridine (P), and hydroxybenzimidazole (H) monomers, have been synthesized in order to investigate both their sequence specificity and binding modes. MPE⋅FeII Footprinting has revealed the preference of both PBB and BBB ligands for 5′‐WGWWW‐3′ and 5′‐WCWWW‐3′ tracts, as well as A⋅T‐rich sequences. Affinity‐cleavage titrations show no evidence for a 2 : 1 binding mode of these Hoechst analogs. Importantly, all derivatives are oriented in one direction at each of their binding sites. The implications of these results for the design of minor‐groove‐binding small molecules is discussed.