Study of interactions between DNA-ethidium bromide (EB) and DNA-acridine orange (AO), in solution, using hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE)

The interaction of ethidium bromide (EB) and acridine orange (AO) with double stranded (ds), thermally denatured (ss) and supercoiled (sc) DNA, in solution, was studied by alternating current voltammetry (AC voltammetry) at the hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) in 0.3 M NaCl+50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.5). Their interaction with DNA is shown to be time dependent and completely different. The changes at peak 2 (peak at −1.20 V) of dsDNA form and the appearance of peak 3 (peak at −1.42 V) in scDNA form are presented as criteria declaring the different mechanism of interaction of EB and AO with DNA. Additionally, the appearance of a new peak at around −0.44 V as a result of DNA and AO interaction, differentiates the studied behaviors. The comparison of the electrochemical behaviors of these compounds highlights the differences in the mechanism of interaction.