This work investigated the difference between $Fe^{2+}$ autoxidation-induced and Fenton-type cleavage of pBR322 plasmid DNA. $^{cdot}OH$ generation reactions in the absence and presence of $H_2O_2$ under various conditions were also investigated. Although both the $Fe^{2+}$ autoxidation and Fenton-type reactions showed DNA cleavage and $^{cdot}OH$ generation, there were significant differences in their efficiencies and reaction rates. The rate and efficiency of the cleavage reaction were higher in the absence of 1.0 mM of $H_2O_2$ than in its presence in 20 mM phosphate buffer. In contrast, the $^{cdot}OH$ generation reaction was more prominent in the presence of $H_2O_2$ and showed a pH-independent, fast initial reaction rate, but the rate was decreased in the absence of $H_2O_2$ at across the entire tested pH range. Studies using radical scavengers on DNA cleavage and $^{cdot}OH$ generation reactions in both the absence and presence of $H_2O_2$ confirmed that both reactions spontaneously involved the active oxygen species $^{cdot}OH$, ${O_2}^{cdot-}$, $^1O_2$ and $H_2O_2$, indicating that a similar process may participate in both reactions. Based on the above observations, a new mechanism for the $Fe^{2+}$ autoxidation-induced DNA cleavage reaction is proposed.