Site-specific cleavage of single-stranded DNAs at unique sites by a copper-dependent redox reaction

Metal ions play a crucial role not only in the formation and maintenance of nucleic acid structure, but also in important biochemical conversions of polynucleotides. Some aqueous metal ions, acting as general acid/base (or electrophilic/nucleophilic) catalysts, can induce site-specific cleavage of R...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1988-09, Vol.335 (6186), p.186-188
Main Authors: Kazakov, Sergey A, Astashkina, Tatiana G, Mamaev, Sergey V, Vlassov, Valentin V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry
Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology
Autoradiography
Biochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Copper
Copper - pharmacology
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Dna, deoxyribonucleoproteins
DNA, Single-Stranded - drug effects
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology
Metal ions
Nucleic acids
Oxidation-Reduction
Redox reactions
Temperature
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Summary:Metal ions play a crucial role not only in the formation and maintenance of nucleic acid structure, but also in important biochemical conversions of polynucleotides. Some aqueous metal ions, acting as general acid/base (or electrophilic/nucleophilic) catalysts, can induce site-specific cleavage of RNA. DNA is not cleaved efficiently by the non-redox metal-induced mechanism. However, DNA degradation by radicals formed in the metal-catalysed auto-oxidation of ascorbate (or other reducing agents) is well known. In the past, the observed cleavage reactions have not been very specific. Here, we report a non-enzymatic cleavage of single-stranded DNA occurring at unique sites due to redox reactions involving copper. This could be considered a 'self-cleavage' reaction, by analogy with the lead-induced non-redox RNA cleavage reaction. This site-specific cleavage of DNA, stimulated by ascorbate and hydrogen peroxide, is most efficient under physiological conditions, so this phenomenon may have biological significance.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/335186a0