Conformational changes of DNA molecules in interactions with bioactive compounds. II. DNA complexes with coordination compounds of cobalt and ruthenium

A comparative analysis is made of the character of conformational changes of the DNA molecule in its interaction with coordination compounds of cobalt and ruthenium with different ligand sets in the coordination sphere of the ion. It is shown that during complexation global conformational changes of DNA (e.g., the reduction of its volume) practically do not depend on the location and on the binding mode of the complex ion, but are primarily determined by its charge, whereas local conformational changes of the macromolecule are very sensitive to the type of the complex being formed, as indicated by the change of spectral properties of DNA. An assessment of sizes of the particles that are formed as a result of DNA condensation due to its binding with trivalent ions of cobalt and ruthenium was performed with the use of dynamic light scattering.