An In Vitro Transcription Assay for Probing Drug-DNA Interactions During Active Transcription of DNA

Many of the anticancer chemotherapeutic agents in current clinical use are known to interact strongly with DNA (e.g., Adriamycin, cis-platinum, melphalan, mitomycin C, and mitoxantrone). Although the exact mechanism of action remains unresolved in most cases, the apparent role of DNA has prompted, over several decades, a wide range of studies of these drug-DNA interactions. The major objective of such studies has been to determine the structure of the drug-DNA complex, with the objective being to use this information in the design of new derivatives.