Interaction of adriamycin with DNA as studied by resonance Raman spectroscopy

Raman and resonance Raman spectra of the complex DNA-adriamycin in aqueous solution have been recorded and analysed. Calf thymus DNA was used and it is found that in the complex DNA-adriamycin the chromophore of adriamycin is intercalated in the GC sequences. The substituents on the rings give hydrogen bonding interactions with the base pairs above and below the interca-lation site. It is suggested from the Raman and resonance Raman spectral modifications that the phenolic groups of the chro-mophore are involved in the drug-UNA intercalation, in addition to Π–Π, hydroxyl and amino interactions.