title: [Study of DNA damage induced by potassium dichromate and glutathione with atomic force microscope].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe calf thymus DNA damage induced by potassium dichromate in combination with glutathione (GSH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Atomic force microscope and ultraviolet spectrum (UV) were used to observe the alterations of the DNA ultrastructure and absorption spectrum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atomic force microscopy revealed no breaks of the DNA strand in response to treatment with potassium dichromate alone, but when coupled with GSH at proper concentrations, potassium dichromate induced alterations in the DNA structure and DNA fragmentation. UV examination also confirmed these findings by showing increased absorption intensity of the maximum UV peak following combined treatment of the DNA with potassium dichromate and GSH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These morphological and spectrographic evidences verified the important role of GSH in mediating the generation of various tumor-inducing intermediate products of potassium dichromate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. happymyf@tom.com
authors.forename: Yu-feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ji-ye
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Qiu-xiang
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Pei-hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000633:toxicity*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000633:toxicity*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; C427203:calf thymus DNA; D005978:Glutathione; D011192:Potassium Dichromate