Real-time detection of DNA cleavage induced by [M(2,2'-dipyridylamine)(2)(NO(3))(n)](x+) (M=Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, n=1,2, x=0,1): effect of central metal ions.

[M(Hdpa)(2)(NO(3))(n)](x+) (M=Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II), n=1,2, and x=0, 1) complexes were synthesized, and their activity as catalysts for DNA cleavage reactions were investigated using electrophoresis and linear dichroism technique (LD). All four metal complexes effectively cleaved pBR322 super-coiled DNA. The electrophoresis analysis showed that the [Zn(Hdpa)(2)(NO(3))](+) and [Cd(Hdpa)(2)(NO(3)) (2)] complexes most effectively cleaved the super-coiled DNA, whereas the [Ni(Hdpa)(2)(NO(3))](+) complex was least effective.

Real-time detection of Fe.EDTA/H2O2-induced DNA cleavage by linear dichroism.

The conditions for the measurement of linear dichroism (LD) can be adjusted so as to solely reflect the length and the flexibility of DNA. The real-time detection of the EDTA.Fe(2+)-induced oxidative cleavage of double-stranded native and synthetic DNAs was performed using LD.