Artificial metallonucleases

Abstract

The development of synthetic agents able to hydrolytically cleave DNA with high efficiency and selectivity is a fascinating challenge that will show the way to obtaining artificial nucleases able to compete with the natural enzymes. This Feature Article highlights the progress reported toward the realization of synthetic nucleases with particular attention to the strategies that can be pursued to improve efficiency and sequence selectivity.

DNA cleavage activity of VIVO(acac)2 and derivatives

“…2), 0.23 µ M -1 . This value is similar to that of Cu-neamine [38], one of the most efficient inorganic DNA hydrolytic cleavers reported [40].…”

Unique Ligand‐Based Oxidative DNA Cleavage by Zinc(II) Complexes of Hpyramol and Hpyrimol

“…Recently, much research has been aimed at preparing model zinc coordination complexes of these active sites for biomimetic purposes. [18] In this context, many zinc complexes Abstract: The zinc(II) complexes reported here have been synthesised from the ligand 4-methyl-2-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminophenol (Hpyramol) with chloride or acetate counterions. All the five complexes have been structurally characterised, and the crystal structures reveal that the ligand Hpyramol gradually undergoes an oxidative dehydrogenation to form the ligand 4-methyl-2-N-(2-pyridylmethylene)aminophenol (Hpyrimol), upon coordination to Zn II .…”

Structures, spectra, and DNA-binding properties of mixed ligand copper(II) complexes of iminodiacetic acid: The novel role of diimine co-ligands on DNA conformation and hydrolytic and oxidative double strand DNA cleavage

“…The characterization of DNA recognition by small redox-or photoactive transition metal complexes has been substantially aided by studying the DNA cleavage activity [5][6][7][8]. Double-strand breaks in duplex DNA are thought to be more significant sources of cell lethality than are single strand breaks, as they appear to be less readily repaired by DNA repair mechanisms [9][10][11]. A number of copper(II) complexes have been used as candidates for mediation of strand scission of duplex DNA [12,13] and as probes of DNA structure in solution [14][15][16][17].…”