Antiradiation compounds XVII: binding ability of radiation-protective N-heterocyclic aminoethyl disulfides and thiosulfates to DNA.

Binding parameters for a series of N-heterocyclic aminoethyl disulfides and thiosulfates to DNA were determined at different ionic strengths and pH values. None of the thiosulfates showed any binding ability, but the disulfides revealed DNA binding abilities that were suppressed both by increased ionic strength and hydrogen-ion concentration. No correlation between DNA binding ability and radiation protective activity in mice was evident.