Binding of zinc to a 19 mer double-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotide was investigated by anodic stripping voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry in order to understand the roles of zinc in DNA cleavage catalyzed by mung bean nuclease. These methods rely on the direct monitoring of zinc oxidation current in the absence and in the presence of the oligo. Zinc titration curves with the ds-oligodeoxyribonucleotide were obtained in concentrations ranging from 3.62 x 10(-9) to 3.62 x 10(-8) M and 4.06 x 10(-10) to 5.25 x 10(-9) M. The acquired data were used to determine the dissociation constant, stoichiometry and zinc binding sites of the complex and to understand the specific changes of ds-oligodeoxyribonucleotide secondary structure by zinc binding. The oxidation-reduction process of zinc was also investigated by cyclic voltammetry through I (oxidation current) versus v(1/2) (square root of scan rate) curves in the absence and in the presence of the double-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotide.