A new bithiazole derivative with intercalative properties.

In the course of studies related to new molecules with intercalative properties, we have been led to design and synthesize a bithiazole derivative, namely the 2-phenyl-6-[2'-(4'-(ethoxy-carbonyl)thiazolyl)]thiazolo[3,2- b][1,2,4]triazole (PETT). Its interaction with calf thymus DNA was studied using thermal denaturation and viscometry. Our results set in evidence that PETT acts as an intercalator, giving delta Tm, elongation and unwinding of DNA comparable to the values obtained for daunorubicin. The discrepancy between the data presented herein and those precedently obtained for bleomycin and bleomycin models provide evidence that these bithiazole derivatives interact differently with DNA.