Investigations on the interactions between small heterocyclic molecules acting as drugs and human DNA has gathered attention of many scientists as it helps in understanding the mode of interactions and discovery of new drugs[1–4]. Examination of structure of DNA shows the presence of large numbers of positive and negative ions which can react with the drug molecules. As a result of interactions between drug and DNA complex structural changes are observed in both drug and DNA molecules [5, 6]. Association between targeted drug and DNA takes place at definite discrete sites, known as binding sites and resultantly the solvent molecules are dislocated. Both drug and DNA possess opposite charges and due to the reorientation of charges between drug-DNA complex and solvent molecules, solvation of complex is observed, which leads to extra stability [7]. The heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen and sulphur atoms play a very vital role in the field of medicinal chemistry. Derivatives of Benzthiazine are target of interest due to their incredible biological and pharmacological properties [8–15]. A number of these derivatives show remarkable properties as blocker of various receptors of nicotinic, muscarinic, histamine H and serotonine 5HT3 receptors. 1,2 -benzothiazine nucleus possess exceptional anti-inflammatory [16], antimalarial [17], antipro-liferative[18] and analgesic activities [19]. Various derivatives of 1,2-benzothiazine are excellent drugs for treatment of vascoocclusive disorders [20]. 3-benzoyl-4-hydroxy-2-methyl-2H-1,2 benzothiazine (SASA) was synthesized by multistep reactions [21]. SASA shows remarkable potential as antimicrobial [22], antioxidant [23] and anti-HIV [24]. Most of the derivatives of thiazine are insoluble in water so the co-solvent immiscible with water i.e. benzene, toluene and DMSO [25] was used. Since the derivatives of 1,2-benzothiazine possesses outstanding pharmaceutical properties so the investigation of mode of interaction with DNA will be subject of interest.
Theoretical predictions help to design new compounds. Computational chemistry is rapidly developing subfield of theoretical chemistry, where the main attention is on solving chemical problems by calculations. Computational study is mainly the study of predictions given by the theoretical overview. Hyperchem and Gaussian software were used to examine optimize molecular geometry, bond length, bond angle, torsion angle, energy calculation, kinetics of the reactions, IR, UV-Visible, and NMR spectra of the chemical compound under investigation.
In DFT calculations entire energy is expressed in terms of the total electron concentration, instead of the wave function. Computational chemistry is used to describe the precise structure and strength of chemical system, to investigate energy variances between different shapes, and to elucidate reaction pathways and mechanism at atomic level. It is also used to examine the properties of solids in materials science. Semiconductors, superconductors, plastics, ceramics; all these have been examined with the aid of computational chemistry.
In pharmacological field computational chemistry has vital role for studying the interaction of drugs with biomolecules, structure of active site of proteins for synthesizing their compatible substrate to bind on these active site to cure or to control the disease. New drugs could be synthesized by the information of theoretical study. The drug control or inhibition of disease is done by making interaction with DNA. Binding of small molecules of drug with DNA by covalent and non-covalent bonds depend upon the interaction between them. [26].
The drug–DNA interaction is a significant feature in pharmacological field and three types of mode of interaction were investigated by non-covalent interaction
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Electrostatic interaction: It is the binding of small molecules with negatively charged sugar-phosphate back bone of DNA.
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Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction: It is caused by binding of small molecules on minor and major grooves.
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Intercalation: It is the binding of small planer organic molecules with DNA base pairs [27].
DNA interacts with the drug by the charged sugar-phosphate groups, through its base pairs that was named intercalation and through minor and major groove binding [28]. Intercalation is the strong binding mode between different biomolecules and DNA [29] [11]. Intercalation mode of interaction was first time proposed by Lerman and he also predicted that planer molecules show intercalation mode of interaction with DNA [30]. More efficient anticancer and antitumor drugs could be designed by the Study of binding of small molecules with DNA [31]. Experimentally a number of spectroscopic techniques like UV-Visible, fluorescence, Raman, Nuclear magnetic resonance and atomic force microscopy could be used to investigate the drug-DNA interactions [1, 32–34]. Viscosity measurement, thermal denaturation and DNA- foot printing could be utilized for the same purpose [35–37]
Predictions during UV-Visible study for interactions between Drug-DNA complex could be obtained by observing the variations in the absorption spectra of the drug, the DNA molecules and Drug-DNA complex [38]. Hypochromism and red shift could be the sign of intercalation while hyperchromism might be the sign of electrostatic interactions. Extension, unwinding and rigidity of DNA resulted due to the intercalative binding of drug with DNA. The UV–Visible absorption spectrum of DNA shows a broad band (200–350 nm) in the UV region with a maximum absorption at 260nm [39]. Strength of binding interaction could be investigated by calculating binding constant (Kf) [40]. Way of collaboration of small molecules with DNA could also be visualized by calculating viscosity of the drug and drug-DNA complexes [41].
The viscosity measurement is based on the flow rate of a DNA solution through a capillary viscometer [42] Intercalation way of interaction is predicted by the increase in viscosity due to the increase in the length of DNA double helix [12]. Evidence about the electrostatic mode of interaction is given by the decrease in viscosity value if the concentration of drug in solution is decreased. Strong argument for mode of interaction could be obtained by Viscometric study [43]