Dimer-promoted fluorescence quenching of coralyne by binding to anionic polysaccharides.

The effects of anionic chondroitin or dextran sulfates on the absorption and fluorescence properties of coralyne, a cationic benzo[c]phenanthridine type alkaloid, were studied in aqueous solution. The remarkably strong binding to both polysaccharides promotes the coralyne dimer formation, which was evidenced by the changes in the absorption and fluorescence spectra and the fluorescence decay. The extent of dimerization, induced by chondroitin, shows a significant pH dependence because the competitive protonation of the carboxylate moieties of the polymer chain decreases the number of binding sites. A larger molecular weight of dextran sulfate stabilizes the coralyne dimer more efficiently.