Synthesis, DNA binding and cleavage studies of the copper(II) complexes of PNA-cyclen conjugates

Two dinucleotide PNA-cyclen copper(II) complexes with α-PNA ( P1 ) and classical PNA ( P2 ) backbones were synthesized and characterized. The interactions between title complexes and DNA were investigated under physiological conditions. Fluorescence studies indicate that the binding ability of complex P1 to CT-DNA is as twice as that of P2 . DNA melting experiments were also carried out and the results show that Δ T m caused by P1 is higher than that caused by P2 . Agarose gel electrophoresis experiments demonstrate that P1 is an excellent chemical nuclease, which can cleavage plasmid DNA completely in 12 h.