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 triplex structures. The hydrophobic nature of aliphatic diamine linker modified the cleaver-DNA interactions and reduced the efficiency of DNA cleavage.