The development of synthetic agents able to hydrolytically cleave DNA with high efficiency and selectivity is a fascinating challenge that will show the way to obtaining artificial nucleases able to compete with the natural enzymes. This Feature Article highlights the progress reported toward the realization of synthetic nucleases with particular attention to the strategies that can be pursued to improve efficiency and sequence selectivity.

The development of synthetic agents able to hydrolytically cleave phosphate diester bonds with high efficiency is a fascinating challenge, which will ultimately open the way to artificial nucleases able to compete with the natural enzymes. This Perspective highlights the progress reported in the realization of hydrolytic catalysts based on the Zn²⁺ ion, a metal ion which, due to its peculiar properties, is a very promising candidate. The review critically examines the reactivity of such catalysts toward model substrates and nucleic acids, paying particular attention to the strategies that can be pursued to improve efficiency and sequence selectivity.

The development of synthetic agents able to hydrolytically cleave DNA with high efficiency and selectivity is still a fascinating challenge. Over the years, many examples have been reported reproducing part of the behaviour of the corresponding natural enzymes. Eventually, even the possibility to apply such systems to the manipulation of DNA of higher organisms has been demonstrated. However, efficiency of enzymes is still unrivalled. This feature article discusses the progress reported toward the realization of synthetic nucleases with particular attention to the comprehension of the reaction mechanisms and to the strategies that need to be addressed to obtain more efficient systems.

A selective Al³⁺ fluorescence chemosensor able to detect concentrations of metal ion in the nanomolar range has been realized. The remarkable sensitivity is the result of the FRET amplification of the fluorescence emission of the ligand subunit.