PHOTOCHEMICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN XANTHYLETINE AND DNA

Abstract— Xanthyletine, a dimethyl-pyranocoumarin having a structural relationship to psoralen, has been studied in connection with its interaction with DNA. In the dark, it forms a weak molecular complex with DNA, which is not of the intercalated type. Under irradiation at 365nm, it is able to bind covalently to DNA, with, however, a much lower rate relative to psoralen. In this photobinding, it behaves as a pure monofunctional reagent, involving only its 3 ,4-double bond of the α-pyronic ring.
3-(α,α-dimethyl-allyl)-xanthyletine, studied for a comparison, showed only a very low photoreactivity with DNA for covalent addition; this is attributed to the presence of a bulky group at position 3 , which prevents almost completely the photoreaction of the 3 ,4-double bond.
Because of the low capacity of photobinding with DNA and the inability to form cross-links, the photobiological effects of xanthyletine are accordingly reduced: Inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, killing of E. coli bacterial cells, inactivation of T₂ bacteriophage have been observed. By contrast, it was inactive in producing erythema on guinea pig skin.