CLEAVAGE OF DOUBLE-STRANDED DNA BY METALLOPORPHYRIN-LINKER-OLIGONUCLEOTIDE MOLECULES - INFLUENCE OF THE LINKER

Manganese porphyrin-linker-triple-helix-forming oligonucleotide molecules were prepared and their ability to cleave in vitro a double-stranded DNA target present in the HIV-1 genome was studied. The nature of the linker is a determining factor of the cleavage efficiency. Cleavage yields as high as 80% were observed when the linker was a spermine residue and in the absence of a large excess of free spermine known to stabilize tripler structures. The hydrophobic nature of aliphatic diamine linker modified the cleaver-DNA interactions and reduced the efficiency of DNA cleavage.