Methylene blue as a DNA probe for a comparative study of Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cr3+ ions binding to calf thymus DNA

Methylene blue (MB) was developed as a sensitive DNA probe for a comparative study of Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cr3+ ions binding with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA). The fluorescence intensity of the MB–ctDNA system increased dramatically when heavy metal ions (Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cr3+ ions) were added, which indicated that some of the bound MB molecules were released from the ctDNA base pairs. To compare the binding affinity of these three different heavy metal ions with ctDNA, the relationships between the fluorescence intensity of the MB–ctDNA–M (Metal ions) system and the concentration ratio of [M]/[DNA(p)] were investigated. The results showed that the order of the binding affinity of heavy metal ions with ctDNA had the following sequence: Cr3+> Cd2+>Pb2+. This order was further proved by the effects of heavy metal ions on the number of MB bound to ctDNA, the measurements of binding constants of these heavy metal ions to ctDNA, and the effects of heavy metal ions on the absorption of the MB–ctDNA system. In addition, the interaction mechanisms of Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cr3+ ions with ctDNA were also discussed in detail. These results indicated that their interaction mechanisms are related to the concentration ratios of heavy metal ions to DNA.