Coordination chemistry mimics of nuclease-activity in the hydrolytic cleavage of phosphodiester bond

Abstract

In vivo, there occurs the synthesis and degradation of the nucleic acids, involving the formation and cleavage of phosphodiester bond. The cleavage modes of phosphodiester bond can be divided into two types, oxidative and hydrolytic, only the hydrolytic products are sticky and connectable, allowing to be religated by ligases. In recent years, great progresses have been made in chemical mimics in the hydrolytic cleavage of phosphodiester bond. Among the found metal complexes with the activity of nucleic acid cleavage, there are mononuclear and dinuclear metal complexes, the adopted metal ions including transitional and lanthanide metal ions. However, the reaction rates are still several orders less than those of the natural enzymes. It should be a prosperous and expedient direction to mimic the hydrolytic cleavage of phosphodiester bond by taking the advantages of dinuclear metal complexes.