9-Aminoacridine-EDTA conjugates as hydroxy radical footprinting reagents with no intrinsic cutting specificity

9-Aminoacridine-EDTA conjugates were prepared as DNA footprinting reagents in conjunction with ferrous ion. The complexes were found to have no significant DNA cutting preferences and are more effective than free EDTA. The application was demonstrated with the footprinting of the lac repressor bound specifically to the lac operon.