The interaction of native calf thymus DNA with the Pd(II) complex, PdCl2(LL) (LL = chelating diamine ligand: N,N-dimethyltrimethylenediamine), in 10 mM Hepes aqueous solutions at neutral pH has been monitored as a function of metal complex/DNA molar ratio by UV absorption spectrophotometry, circular dichroism (CD), viscosimetry, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results support two modes of interaction. In particular, this complex showed absorption hypochromism and then hyperchromism, increase in melting temperature, and some structural changes in specific viscosity when bound to calf thymus DNA. The binding constant determined using absorption measurement is 2.69.10(3) M(-1). As evidenced by the increasing fluorescence of methylene blue-DNA solutions in the presence of increasing amounts of metal complex, PdCl(2)(LL) is able to displace the methylene blue intercalated into DNA, but not so completely, as indicated by partial intercalation. CD spectral changes in two steps and viscosity decrease confirm our conclusions.