Three-dimensional crystal structure of the A-tract DNA dodecamer d(CGCAAATTTGCG) complexed with the minor-groove-binding drug Hoechst 33258.
Vega, M.C., Garcia Saez, I., Aymami, J., Eritja, R., Van der Marel, G.A., Van Boom, J.H., Rich, A., Coll, M.(1994) Eur J Biochem 222: 721-726
- PubMed: 7517864 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1994.tb18917.x
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
264D - PubMed Abstract: 
The molecular structure of the DNA A-tract dodecamer d(CGCAAATTTGCG) complexed with the drug Hoechst 33258 has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The Hoechst molecule binds in the DNA minor groove covering the sequence AATTT of the central A-tract, with the piperazine group close to one of the GC regions. The drug molecule makes two three-centered hydrogen bonds from the nitrogen atoms of the benzimidazole rings to the N3 and O2 atoms of the DNA bases. Although a high propeller twist is observed in the A-tract, only one unsymmetrical three-centered hydrogen bond is present in the DNA major groove. The structure is compared with other minor-groove-binding drug complexes and the influence of these drugs on DNA A-tracts is discussed.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Departament de Biologia Molecular i Cel-lular, Centre d'Investigació i Desenvolupament-C.S.I.C., Barcelona, Spain.