Nucleic acid cleavage by a Cu(II) polyaza macrocyclic complex

Abstract

The search for efficient artificial nucleases is a consequence of the huge efforts towards DNA sequencing by genome projects around the world. In the present study, we describe the activity of the Cu(II)–BMXD complex (BMXD = 3,6,9,17,20,23-hexaazatricyclo[23.3.1.1 11,15]triaconta-1(29),11(30),12,14,25,27-hexaene) as a DNA cleavage agent. The rate constant for the DNA backbone cleavage reaction at room temperature (25 °C) and pH 7.0 was estimated to be 1.1 × 10 −6 s −1, which corresponds, approximately, to a half-life ( t 1/2) of one week. We demonstrated that the DNA cleavage reaction promoted by the Cu 2BMXD complex may occur via an oxidative pathway through performing reactions in the presence of free-radical acceptors and comparing the activity under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The Cu 2BMXD complex reported here is established as a novel artificial nuclease.