A gel electrophoresis method for determining the relative binding constants of biologically active, intercalating fluorescent stains

Abstract

It is possible to correlate the relative binding tightness of a variety of biologically active, intercalating fluorescent stains through the use of a simple gel electrophoresis method. By prebinding the stains to a homologous series of oligodeoxyribonucleotides and subjecting them to electrophoresis, a size determination of the smallest oligomer to which they remain bound may be obtained from that oligomer's fluorescence using short-wavelength ultraviolet irradiation. This method may prove to be quite practical for the preclinical testing of certain drug derivatives used in cancer chemotherapy. An estimate of the relative effectiveness of new derivatives, as compared to previously tested drugs, might be obtained from this type of analysis.