Pentamidine congeners. 4. DNA binding affinity and anti-Pneumocystis carinii activity of butamidine analogues

A number of pentamidine-like compounds are known to bind to DNA. DNA could therefore be the molecular target for the anti-P. carinii activity of these compounds. We provide the first evidence demonstrating a correlation between in vitro anti-P. carinii activity and in vitro DNA binding affinity of pentamidine related aromatic dicationic compounds.