Hydrogen peroxide commences copper induced DNA damage isolated from human blood: <i style="">In vitro</i> study

Abstract

The present study revealed the damaging effects of copper and hydrogen peroxide on DNA isolated from human blood in <i style="">in vitro</i>. Ultra violet spectral studies showed that copper and H₂O₂ alone (at 20 m<i style="">M</i>) caused destabilization of DNA structure. Notwithstanding, the effect was more prominent in combination of copper and H₂O₂. Further, agarose gel electrophoretic studies revealed that neither copper nor H₂O₂ alone had DNA fragmentation (up to 40 m<i style="">M</i> concentration), while copper and H₂O₂together caused massive DNA fragmentation even at lower concentrations (4 m<i style="">M</i> copper + 4 m<i style="">M</i> H₂O₂). Therefore, it was concluded from the present study that the observed destabilization of DNA associated with alterations in configuration and subsequently massive DNA fragmentation was in response to copper and H₂O₂. Further, fluorescence spectroscopy and TUNNEL assay will address destabilization and fragmentation of naked DNA more precisely.