Two series of 1, 4-bis (2-amino-ethylamino) anthraquinone–amino acid conjugates (BACs), ametantrone (AT)–amino acid conjugates (AACs) and mitoxantrone (MX)–amino acid conjugates (MACs), were designed and synthesized. The DNA binding of BACs was evaluated by DNA thermal denaturation experiment. In the series, the methionine- substituted BACs had the weakest DNA binding, while the lysine-substituted BACs had ...