Homogeneous Ce(IV) Complexes for Efficient Hydrolysis of Plasmid DNA

Homogeneous Ce(IV) solutions, prepared by using appropriate additives, promptly hydrolyzed a plasmid DNA. The inactivity of Ce(IV)-hydroxide gel for this reaction, which is in contrast with its remarkable catalysis for the hydrolysis of linear DNA, has been ascribed to the steric hindrance between the supercoiled DNA and the polymeric catalyst.