Photonucleases, artificial

The naphthalimide hydroperoxides 44 and 45 are called artificial photonucleases for their in vitro ability of intercalating in the DNA structure and causing photochemically induced cleavage . Lipid hydroperoxides interfere with the photosynthesis process. 

Such artificial photonucleases can be generated by UV excitation of N-hydroxypyridinethiones (N-HTP) 1 and 6 (R = H) and N-aroyloxypyridine-2-thiones (1, R = ArCOj), which can photocleave DNA through release of hydroxyl or aryloyloxyl radicals, repectively. " " Some more complex structures based on Barton esters were also prepared. Recent efforts are focused on combining these highly efficient DNA-cleaving families with an intercalative moiety (Scheme 20). ... 

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