Here are two references:

> Lloyd DR, Phillips DH (1999) Oxidative DNA damage mediated by copper(II), iron(II) and nickel(II) Fenton reactions: evidence for site-specific mechanisms in the formation of double-strand breaks, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and putative intrastrand cross-links. Mutation Research 424, 23-36.

> Mello-Filho AC, Meneghini R (1991) Iron is the intracellular metal involved in the production of DNA damage by oxygen radicals. Mutation Research 251, 109-113.

Peter

Hi, I don't know to what degree RNA is able to cleave RNA but DNA is definitely able to cleave RNA: Santoro, S. W., & Joyce, G. F. (1997). A general purpose RNA-cleaving DNA enzyme. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 94(9), 4262–4266.

I have used it. As far as I remember it worked best with Mg2+ but I can't remember the optimal concentration. Hope this helps!

Fe2+ in the presence of hydrogen peroxide is able to generate hydroxyl radicals (Fenton reaction, see below). The latter attack DNA and RNA. You will find many references when looking for Fenton reaction and DNA damage.

Fe2+ + H2O2 → Fe3+ + OH· + OH−

Peter

Here are two references:

> Lloyd DR, Phillips DH (1999) Oxidative DNA damage mediated by copper(II), iron(II) and nickel(II) Fenton reactions: evidence for site-specific mechanisms in the formation of double-strand breaks, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and putative intrastrand cross-links. Mutation Research 424, 23-36.

> Mello-Filho AC, Meneghini R (1991) Iron is the intracellular metal involved in the production of DNA damage by oxygen radicals. Mutation Research 251, 109-113.

Peter