title: Inhibition of DNA alkylation damage with inorganic salts.
abstract: Human exposure to alkylating agents metabolized from tobacco- and food-borne carcinogens occurs regularly. Dietary inorganic compounds such as selenium and vanadium have been shown previously to provide chemoprotective benefits in rat and human trials. Here, we present biochemical data on the ability of inorganic compounds to protect DNA from alkylation damage. An enzyme cleavage assay is used to observe alkylated DNA. Simple salts (e.g., NaCl or NiCl(2)) did not prevent DNA alkylation, whereas anionic oxo species (e.g., Na(2)SeO(4) or Na(3)VO(4)) did inhibit alkylation. We propose that these oxo species behave as nucleophilic targets for the electrophilic alkylating agents, thereby preventing DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wilker
mesh_terms: D000478:Alkylation / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D012492:Salts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064586:Selenic Acid; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D014638:Vanadates / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012492:Salts; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D014638:Vanadates; D004247:DNA; D064586:Selenic Acid