New DNA binding ligands as a model of chromomycin A ₃

Small molecules with DNA-binding affinity within the minor groove have become of great interest. In this study, new DNA-binding ligands were designed to mimic Chromomycin A ₃ (CRA ₃), which contains a hydroxylated tetrahydroanthracene chromophore substituted with di and trisaccharides. The trisaccharide part of CRA ₃ that is supposed to contribute to form the Mg ²⁺-coordinated dimer was expected to be mimicked by a simple alkyl group attached to the chromophore part as new model compounds. The present study has successfully demonstrated that the new ligands form Mg ²⁺-coordinated dimer complexes to exhibit DNA-binding affinity.