Design of DNA-cleaving agents

The review focuses on the molecular design of artificial sequence-specific DNA-cleavers which have recently been developed in our laboratories. These include: DNA cleavers mimicking natural antitumor antibiotic like enediyne antibiotics, bleomycins, and kapurimycin A(3). The design of photochemical DNA-cleaving molecules is also described. These are classified as: i) nonselective DNA cleavers, ii) thymine selective DNA cleavers, iii) photo-Fenton reagents, iv) photoinducible DNA alkylating agents, and v) DNA cleavers via photoinduced electrontransfer. The scope and limitation of these DNA-cleaving agents are described with a special emphasis on the concept and strategy for designing novel sequence-specific DNA cleavers, as well as on the mechanistic aspects of their DNA cleavage.