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 ΔT 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.