title: Selenium-containing compounds protect DNA from single-strand breaks caused by peroxynitrite.
abstract: Peroxynitrite (ONOO-/ONOOH) is a powerful oxidant that can induce mutations and cause single-strand breaks in plasmid supercoiled DNA. The selenium-containing compound ebselen rapidly reacts with peroxynitrite. Therefore, ebselen [2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one] and other selenium-containing molecules, selenomethionine and selenocystine, were studied as agents protecting DNA from single-strand breaks induced by peroxynitrite. Selenomethionine and selenocystine protected DNA from single-strand breaks more effectively than their sulfur analogs, methionine and cystine, and they also were more effective than glutathione or the hydroxyl radical scavenger mannitol. These results suggest that selenium-containing compounds can protect DNA from damage caused by peroxynitrite.
authors.affiliation: Insitut für Physiologische Chemie I, Heinrich-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roussyn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Briviba
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masumoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sies
mesh_terms: D003553:Cystine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009566:Nitrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000187:drug effects*; D012645:Selenomethionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C009226:selenocystine; C039642:peroxynitric acid; D008353:Mannitol; D003553:Cystine; D004247:DNA; D012645:Selenomethionine; D008715:Methionine