Cu2+-DEPENDENT DNA-CLEAVING ACTIVITY OF ARENES

In the presence of Cu(II) ions, plasmid DNA is cleaved under physiological condition by different arenes at low concentrations. The cleavage was dependent on the presence of O₂. The DNA cleavage efficiency of the designed system arene-Cu is comparable to that of the well-known DNA cleaving reagents such as phenanthroline-Cu and ascorbic acid-Cu. However in contrast to the mentioned reagents, the system arene-Cu does not require external reducing agents or H₂O₂.