Interaction of 5α,6α-cholesterol oxide with DNA and other nucleophiles

Abstract

5α,6α-Cholesterol oxide forms a strong physical complex with DNA which, on incubation, leads to a significant amount of covalent attachment of steroid to DNA; both this oxide and its 3-acetate give adducts with neutral thiols and heterocyclic amines, the former alone responding to acidic catalysis.