Fluorescence properties (quantum yield, decay curve, lifetime and polarization) of acridine orange and proflavine bound to DNA were examined as a function of nucleotide to dye (P/D) ratio. First, mean fluorescence lifetimes were determined by the phase-shift measurements. The lifetime and quantum yield of acridine orange increased in a parallel fashion with increasing P/D ratio. There was no pa...

Photoresponsive systems for site-selective RNA scission have been prepared by combining Lu(III) ions with acridine/azobenzene dual-modified DNA. The modified DNA forms a heteroduplex with substrate RNA, and the target phosphodiester linkages in front of the acridine residue is selectively activated so that Lu(III) ion rapidly cleaves the linkage. Azobenzene residue introduced adjacent to the ac...

MONOFUNCTIONAL quinacrine mustard, 2-methoxy-6-chloro-9(3[ethyl2-chloroethyl] aminopropylamino) acridine dihydrochloride, ICR-170*, consists of two portions: an acridine ring and an alkylating mustard. The complex chemical structure of PCR-170 suggests that mutations could be produced by several different mechanisms. If the nitrogen mustard component of the molecule is the effective part of the...

A Fischer indole synthesis with a cis-configurated octahydroisobenzofuran-6-one yielded exclusively a furo[3,4-c]carbazole derivative as the product of a regioselective angular annulation reaction. A Friedländer quinoline synthesis from the same substrate gave a mixture of angular and linear annulation products, i. e. furo[3,4-a]acridine and furo[3,4-b]acridine derivatives. When submitting a mi...

This study concerns a comparative analysis of the acridine orange and Giemsa staining procedures for the fish erythrocyte micronucleus assay. The goal was to optimize the assay in the context of field water monitoring. Fish (Carassius carassius) were exposed to a reference genotoxic agent, cyclophosphamide monohydrate 5 mg l(-1) for 2, 4, and 6 days before testing. Slides from each individual w...

The International Standardization Organization recently launched a soil toxicity test with snails (Helix aspersa). We assessed the sensitivity of this test for seven polycyclic aromatic compounds. Control animals had 100% survival and low variability for growth measurements. Maximum exposure concentrations of 2800 mg/kg (4000 mg/kg for acridine) had no effect on survival. Similarly, growth (bio...