title: DNA breakage by uric acid and Cu(II): binding of uric acid to DNA and biological activity of the reaction.
abstract: Uric acid is present in human plasma in relatively high concentrations and is considered to be a natural physiological antioxidant. We have earlier shown that in the presence of Cu(II) and molecular oxygen, uric acid causes strand breakage in DNA. In this article, we show that uric acid fluorescence is quenched by addition of DNA, indicating the formation of uric acid-DNA complex. Uric acid-Cu(II)-mediated DNA strand scission is capable of bacteriophage inactivation and such inactivation is mediated through reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) and the generation of oxygen-derived radicals. It is indicated that the DNA breakage is repaired in E. coli and involves the repair of DNA polymerase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, India.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Shamsi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Husain
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hadi
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014527:Uric Acid; D003300:Copper; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase