Anthraquinone-peptides as inhibitors of AP-1 transcription factor

Peptide-1-[N-{2-succinamidylethyl}amino]anthraquinones containing five–seven amino acid residues including the KCR motif important in AP-1 protein binding to DNA have been synthesised as potential transcription factor inhibitors. These anthraquinone-peptides showed DNA intercalative binding and inhibition of AP-1 protein binding to its DNA consensus sequence.