The DNA binding profiles of three bis Pt(II) polyamine-linked compounds, [[ trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[mu-spermine- N(1), N(12)]](4+), [[ trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[mu-spermidine- N(1), N(8)]](3+), and [[ trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[mu-BOC-spermidine]](2+), were compared with that of a novel trinuclear phase II clinical agent, [[ trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[mu- trans-Pt(NH(3))(2)(H(2)N(CH(2))(6)NH(2))(2)]](4+). All of the compounds bind preferentially in a bifunctional manner, according to unwinding of supercoiled DNA circles. The kinetics of binding of these compounds corresponds to their relative charge (2+ to 4+). The preference for the formation of interstrand crosslinks, however, does not follow a charge-based pattern. By studying the results of DNA polymerase extension products on a DNA template modified by the compounds, and by incorporating the complementary method of RNA transcription mapping, it was possible to determine the nucleotide bases that are preferred sites of binding. The stop sites due to platinum adducts were determined, and some preliminary observations concerning the range and type of crosslinks were established. It can be concluded that dinuclear Pt compounds are similar to their trinuclear counterpart, and that charge differences do not contribute solely to the variances between the compounds.

Recent findings that novel trans-dichloroplatinum(II) complexes exhibit antitumor activity violate the classical structure-activity relationships of platinum(II) complexes. These novel "nonclassical" trans platinum complexes also comprise those containing planar aromatic amines. Initial studies have shown that these compounds form a considerable amount of DNA interstrand cross-links (up to approximately 30%) with a rate markedly higher than clinically ineffective transplatin. The present work has shown, using Maxam-Gilbert footprinting, that trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(quinoline)] and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)], representatives of the group of new antitumor trans-dichloroplatinum complexes containing planar amines, preferentially form DNA interstrand cross-links between guanine residues at the 5'-GC-3' sites. Thus, DNA interstrand cross-linking by trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(quinoline)] and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)] is formally equivalent to that by antitumor cisplatin, but different from clinically ineffective transplatin which preferentially forms these adducts between complementary guanine and cytosine residues. This result shows for the first time that simple chemical modification of the structure of an inactive compound alters its DNA binding site into a DNA adduct of an active drug.

Although telomere sequences are considered to be highly conserved, there are switch-points in plant telomere evolution that are congruent with species' phylogenies. When Asparagales diverged, the Arabidopsis-type telomeric minisatellite repeat (TTTAGGG) n was first replaced by a human-type (TTAGGG) n repeat, and both were lost in Allium cepa (Alliaceae). We aimed to discover (1) when this loss occurred during divergence of Alliaceae and, (2) if (TTAGGG) n repeats were replaced by other known telomeric minisatellites. Slot-blot hybridization, fluorescent in situ hybridization, BAL31 digestion, asymmetric PCR, and cloning were used to identify and localize candidate telomeric sequences in species of Nothoscordum, Miersia, Ipheion, Tulbaghia, Gethyum, Gilliesia, Leucocoryne, Tristagma, and representatives of the three major Allium clades. Alliaceae genera other than Allium have human (TTAGGG)-type telomeric repeats that form telomeres. In Allium, only Tetrahymena-type (TTGGGG) repeats were ubiquitous in the genome, but they were not localized to telomeres. Likewise, the consensus telomeric repeats in Arabidopsis, human, Bombyx (TTAGG), Chlamydomonas (TTTTAGGG), and Oxytricha (TTTTGGGG) are absent in Allium telomeres. Alliaceae with human-type telomeres share telomere structures with related Asparagales species. We demonstrate that in the Allium ancestor human-type telomeric repeats were lost from telomeres and were not replaced by any investigated alternative minisatellite repeats. However, human and other types of minisatellite telomeric repeats are interspersed in some Allium genomes and their genomic signatures coincide with Allium clades.