Similarities and differences in the DNA binding/cleaving specificities and mechanisms of [SalenMn(III)]+ and [TMPPMn(III)]5+

Affinity cleaving analysis reveals that [SalenMn(III)]+ (1) and [TMPPMn(III)]5+ (2) exhibit nearly indistinguishable DNA double strand binding/cleaving specificities. At nucleotide resolution, the complexes generate distinct patterns of cleavage within shared A:T rich target sequences. DNA end product analysis indicates that 1 and 2 produce oxidative cleavage through both common and different mechanisms.