• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.105-110
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• 2018

Objectives : We tried to observe the fluorescence anisotropy and intensity of ethidium ion in the intercalating binding interaction between DNA and ethidium ions in the presence of berberine, and then tried to explain the effect of berberine on the intercalating interaction of ethidium ion with DNA. Methods : DNA(calf thymus DNA), berberine and ethidium bromide(EtBr) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Co. Proper amount of each compound was dissolved in 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer(pH 7.0) containing 100 mM of NaCl to prepare stock solutions. Collections of the fluorescence anisotropy and intensity data were performed on JASCO FP-8300 spectrofluorometer equipped with a polarizer and a Peltier temperature controller. The excitation of ethidium ion was done at 550 nm and the emission data were collected at 600 nm. For Stern-Volmer plot, the fluorescence data were collected at $18^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$. Results : According to the results of this research, the weak competitive binding pattern between ethidium ion and berberine appeared in binding with DNA at low ratio of DNA to ethidium ion. But at high ratio of DNA to ethidium ion, this weak competition disappeared. Instead, berberine might bind to DNA by intercalating way. In other words, berberine could de-intercalate ethidium ion from DNA at low concentration of DNA relative to ethidium ion, but could not at high concentration of DNA relative to ethidium ion. In addition, the mechanism of fluorescence quenching of ethidium ion could also proceed differently, depending on the ratio of the amount of DNA to that of ethidium ion. Conclusions : The effect of berberine on the DNA-ethidium ion intercalating interaction could work differently, depending on the relative ratio of the amount of DNA to that of ethidium ion. This study also showed that fluorescence anisotropy analysis is very useful method to obtain detailed information for investigation of the complex binding interactions. In order to fully understand the mechanism of action of the pharmacological effect by berberine, studies on the effect of berberine on the action of proteins such as various enzymes closely related to berberine-induced medicinal effects should be continued.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.324-327
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• 2018

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1165-1169
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• 2012

The fluorescence intensity of DNA-intercalated ethidium with [ethidium]/[DNA base] being 0.005 was quenched upon the binding of another intercalating ligand, meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (TMPyP). Addition of $Ca^{2+}$ enhanced the quenching efficiency. The range of separations between donor and acceptor molecules, within which total quenching occurs, was calculated using a one-dimensional resonance energy transfer mechanism to be 9.5 base-pairs or $32.3{\AA}$ in the absence of $Ca^{2+}$ ions. The distance increased to 18.7 base-pairs or about $63.6{\AA}$ in the presence $100{\mu}M$ $Ca^{2+}$. Considering that (1) $Ca^{2+}$ had little effect on the binding modes of ethidium and TMPyP, which was investigated by reduced linear dichroism and (2) spectral overlap between the emission spectrum of ethidium and the absorption spectrum of TMPyP was maintained in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$, contributions from orientation factor and spectral overlap to $Ca^{2+}$-induced enhancement in DNA mediated energy transfer was limited. Although there is no direct evidence, electron transfer along the DNA stem may accompany the observed fluorescence quenching. In this respect, DNA bound $Ca^{2+}$ act as a partially conducting medium.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.90-93
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• 2003

The antibacterial activity of chitosan-alginate-Fe(II) complex (CAFC) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and an opportunistic pathogen, Candida albicans, was investigated. A concentration of 1 mg/1 was needed to inhibit the growth of S. aureus and E. coli, while 100 mg/liter was sufficient for the growth inhibition of Candida albicans. The ion leakage of potassium and phosphate from E. coli cell and the penetration of ethidium bromide dye into it indicate that CAFC might be able to increase the cell permeability and consequently cellular leakage, thus leading to cell plasmolysis. Scanning electronmicroscope showed that E. coli cells treated with CAFC became irregular, swelling and expanded. In a field trial, control piglets showed average mortality of up to 60% within 3 days after the onset of diarrhea. In contrast, CAFC-treated groups without mortality was decreased to average 56% on the 1 st day after the treatment, and average 7% on the 3rd day. After then, piglets with diarrhea was not found.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.364-368
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• 1994

Growth inhibition potency of the anthraquinones, anthraquinone-1,5-disulfonic acid and carminic acid, for Sarcoma 180 and L1210 leukemia cells in vivo and in vitro, was induced by the divalent transition metal ion, $Cu^{2+}$. On the other hand spectroscopic titration data show that the anthraquinone drugs form $Cu2^+$ chelate complexes (carminic acid : $Cu^{2+}$ = 1 : 6; anthraquinone-1,5-disulfonic acid : $Cu^{2+}$ = 1 : 3). Furthermore the $Cu^{2+}$-drug complexes associate with DNA to form the $Cu^{2+}$-anthraquinone-DNA ternary complexes. The formation of the complexes was further supported by the $H_2O_2-dependent$ DNA degradation, which can be inhibited by ethidium bromide, caused by the $Cu^{2+}$-drug complexes. It is likely that the $Cu^{2+}$-mediated cytotoxicity of the anthraquinone drugs is related with the $Cu^{2+}-mediated$ binding of the anthraquinone drugs to DNA and DNA degradation.