A new class of symmetric bisbenzimidazole-based DNA minor groove-binding agents showing antitumor activity.
Mann, J., Baron, A., Opoku-Boahen, Y., Johansson, E., Parkinson, G., Kelland, L.R., Neidle, S.(2001) J Med Chem 44: 138-144
- PubMed: 11170623 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm000297b
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1FTD - PubMed Abstract: 
The synthesis and evaluation of the novel head-to-head bisbenzimidazole compound 2,2-bis[4'-(3' '-dimethylamino-1' '-propyloxy)phenyl]-5,5-bi-1H-benzimidazole is described. An X-ray crystallographic study of a complex with the DNA dodecanucleotide sequence d(CGCGAATTCGCG) shows the compound bound in the A/T minor groove region of a B-DNA duplex and that the head-to-head bisbenzimidazole motif hydrogen-bonds to the edges of all four consecutive A:T base pairs. The compound showed potent growth inhibition with a mean IC(50) across an ovarian carcinoma cell line panel of 0.31 microM, with no significant cross-resistance in two acquired cisplatin-resistant cell lines and a low level of cross-resistance in the P-glycoprotein overexpressing acquired doxorubicin-resistant cell line. Studies with the hollow fiber assay and in vivo tumor xenografts showed some evidence of antitumor activity.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Chemistry Department, Reading University, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, UK.