Abstract: Compositions and methods for electrochemical detection and localization of genetic point mutations and other base-stacking perturbations within oligonucleotide duplexes adsorbed onto electrodes and their use in biosensing technologies are described. An intercalative, redox-active moiety (such as an intercalator or nucleic acid-binding protein) is adhered and/or crosslinked to immobilized DNA duplexes at different separations from an electrode and probed electrochemically in the presence or absence of a non-intercalative, redox-active moiety. Interruptions in DNA-mediated electron-transfer caused by base-stacking perturbations, such as mutations or binding of a protein to its recognition site are reflected in a difference in electrical current, charge and/or potential.

Abstract: Duplex polynucleotides containing damage or errors are detected with hindered intercalating compounds which are capable of intercalating only in the presence of such damage or error. Conditions characterized by the presence of polynucleotide errors or damage are treated with such compounds that are capable of catalyzing polynucleotide cleavage with light.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for electrochemical detection and localization of genetic point mutations and other base-stacking perturbations within oligonucleotide duplexes adsorbed onto electrodes and their use in biosensing technologies are described. An intercalative, redox-active moiety (such as an intercalator or nucleic acid-binding protein) is adhered and/or crosslinked to immobilized DNA duplexes at different separations from an electrode and probed electrochemically in the presence or absence of a non-intercalative, redox-active moiety. Interruptions in DNA-mediated electron-transfer caused by base-stacking perturbations, such as mutations or binding of a protein to its recognition site are reflected in a difference in electrical current, charge and/or potential.

Abstract: Duplex polynucleotides containing damage or errors are detected with hindered intercalating compounds which are capable of intercalating only in the presence of such damage or error. Conditions characterized by the presence of polynucleotide errors or damage are treated with such compounds that are capable of catalyzing polynucleotide cleavage with light.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for electrochemical detection and localization of genetic point mutations and other base-stacking perturbations within oligonucleotide duplexes adsorbed onto electrodes and their use in biosensing technologies are described. An intercalative, redox-active moiety (such as an intercalator or nucleic acid-binding protein) is adhered and/or crosslinked to immobilized DNA duplexes at different separations from an electrode and probed electrochemically in the presence or absence of a non-intercalative, redox-active moiety. Interruptions in DNA-mediated electron-transfer caused by base-stacking perturbations, such as mutations or binding of a protein to its recognition site are reflected in a difference in electrical current, charge and/or potential.

Abstract: Duplex polynucleotides containing damage or errors are detected with hindered intercalating compounds which are capable of intercalating only in the presence of such damage or error. Conditions characterized by the presence of polynucleotide errors or damage are treated with such compounds that are capable of catalyzing polynucleotide cleavage with light. Suitable compound include compounds of the formula:Rh(R.sub.1)(R.sub.2)(R.sub.3).sup.3+where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl or substituted heteroaryl of 1 to 5 rings, and R.sub.3 is a group of the formula ##STR1## where x and z are each independently an integer from 1 to 4 and y is an integer from 1 to 2, and R.sub.4, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are each independently H--, halo, HO--, H.sub.2 N--, CN--, O.sub.2 N--, HS--, O.sub.3 S--, O.sub.3 SO--, --COOH, --CONH.sub.2, R, RO--, RNH--, R.sub.a R.sub.b N--, RO.sub.3 S--, RO.sub.3 SO--, --COOR, --CONHR, or --CONR.sub.a R.sub.b, where R, R.sub.a and R.sub.

Abstract: This invention concerns a coordination complex or salt thereof which is spectroscopically or photoactively determinable when bound to DNA having the formula ##STR1## wherein M is a suitable transition metal and each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is ethylenediamine or a substituted derivative thereof, bipyridine or a substituted derivative thereof, phenanthroline or a substituted derivative thereof, diazfluorene-9-one or a substituted derivative thereof, phenanthrenequinonediimine or a substituted derivative thereof; wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are bound to M by coordination bonds wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same and both are different from R.sub.3. The invention also concerns a method of labeling DNA with the coordination complex, a DNA molecule labeled with the coordination complex, a method of selectively labeling DNA conformation with the coordination complex and a method of detecting the presence of a conformation present in a double stranded DNA.

Abstract: This invention concerns a coordination complex and salts and optically resolved enantiomers thereof, of the formula (R).sub.3 --M, wherein R comprises 1,10-phenanthroline or a substituted derivative thereof, M comprises a suitable transition metal, e.g. ruthenium(II), RHODIUM(III) or cobalt(III), and R is bonded to M by a coordination bond.The complexes of this invention are useful in methods for labeling, nicking and cleaving DNA. The lambda enantiomer of complexes of this invention is useful in methods for specifically labeling, detecting, nicking and cleaving Z-DNA or A-DNA.The complexes may also be used in a method for killing tumor cells and may be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of tumor cells in a subject. The invention further concerns methods for treating a subject affilicted with tumor cells.

Abstract: This invention concerns a coordination complex or salt thereof which is spectroscopically or photoactively determinable when bound to DNA having the formula ##STR1## wherein M is a suitable transition metal and each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is ethylenediamine, bipyridine, phenanthroline, diazafluorene-9-one or a substituted derivative thereof, or phenanthrenequinonediimine or a substituted derivative thereof, dypyridophenazine or a substituted derivative thereof; wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are bound to M by coordination bonds; provided that at least one of R1, R2 or R3 is dypyridophenazine or a substituted derivative thereof. The invention also concerns a labeled DNA probe which comprises the complex covalently bound to the DNA probe.

Abstract: This invention concerns a coordination complex or salt thereof which is spectroscopically or photoactively determinable when bound to DNA having the formula ##STR1## wherein M is a suitable transition metal and each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is ethylenediamine, bipyridine, phenanthroline, diazafluorene-9-one or phenanthrenequinonediimine. In the complex, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are bound to M by coordination bonds and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and both are different from R.sub.3. In the preferred embodiments, the invention concerns complexes of ruthenium(Ru) or rhodium(Rh) wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same. The invention also concerns the complex ##STR2## wherein M is Ru or Rh and R is 9-10-phenanthrenequinonediimine or 5-nitrophenanthroline.

Abstract: This invention concerns a coordination complex and salts and optically resolved enantiomers thereof, of the formula (R).sub.3 --M, wherein R comprises 1,10-phenanthroline or a substituted derivative thereof, M comprises a suitable transition metal, e.g. ruthenium(II) or cobalt(III), and R is bonded to M by a coordination bond.The complexes of this invention are useful in methods for labeling, nicking and cleaving DNA. The lambda enantiomer of complexes of this invention is useful in methods for specifically labeling, detecting, nicking and cleaving Z-DNA.The complexes may also be used in a method for killing tumor cells and may be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of tumor cells in a subject. The invention further concerns methods for treating a subject afflicted with tumor cells.

Abstract: This invention concerns a coordination complex and salts and optically resolved enantiomers thereof, of the formula (R).sub.3 --M, wherein R comprises 1,10-phenanthroline or a substituted derivative thereof, M comprises a suitable transition metal, e.g. ruthenium(II) or cobalt(III), and R is bonded by M by a coordination bond.The complexes of this invention are useful in methods for labeling, nicking and cleaving DNA. The lambda enantiomer of complexes of this invention is useful in methods for specifically labeling, detecting, nicking and cleaving Z-DNA.The complexes may also be used in a method for killing tumor cells and may be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of tumor cells in a subject. The invention further concerns methods for treating a subject afflicted with tumor cells.

Abstract: This invention concerns a coordination complex of the formula (R).sub.2 --M--(Y).sub.2 wherein M comprises a suitable transition metal, e.g. cobalt or ruthenium, R comprises 1,10-phenanthroline or a substituted derivative thereof, Y comprises a labile ligand, e.g. chloride, tartrate, malonate or ascorbate ion and R and Y are bonded to M by coordination bonds.A complex of this invention may be used for covalently labeling DNA with a complex of the formula (R).sub.2 --M, wherein R and M are as previously defined. A complex of this invention which contains cobalt may also be used in a method for nicking DNA by effecting single-stranded scission of at least one phosphodiester bond of the DNA with ultraviolet radiation.A complex of this invention is further useful in a method for killing tumor cells. A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of tumor cells in a subject may be prepared containing an effective anti-tumor amount of a complex of this invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.