Degradation of nucleic acids during generation of superoxide-anion in the presence of copper ions

• Published in: Molekuliarnaia biologiia Vol. 21; no. 6; p. 1664
• Main Authors: Vodolazkin, D I, Chistiakov, V A, Gus'kov, E P, Sherstnev, K B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01-11-1987
• Subjects: Copper - pharmacology; DNA - drug effects; DNA - metabolism; DNA Damage; DNA, Bacterial - drug effects; DNA, Bacterial - metabolism; DNA, Circular - drug effects; DNA, Circular - metabolism; DNA, Single-Stranded - drug effects; DNA, Single-Stranded - metabolism; DNA, Superhelical - drug effects; DNA, Superhelical - metabolism; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Nucleic Acid Conformation; RNA - drug effects; RNA - metabolism; RNA, Bacterial - drug effects; RNA, Bacterial - metabolism; Superoxides - metabolism
• ISSN: 0026-8984

The efficiency of Escherichia coli nucleic acids samples: covalently closed circular DNA, linear chromosomal DNA, total RNA degradation mediated by the action of high oxygen pressure; hydrochloric hydroxylamine in alkaline conditions in the presence of cooper ions and in analogous conditions without cooper ions was studied. The nativity of nucleic acids was determined by means of fluorometric analysis of nucleic acids/ethidium bromide complexes. Experiments revealed, that the destructive effect of active oxygen species decreased in the following order: NH2OH.HCl in alkaline conditions in the presence of copper ions-NH2.HCl in alkaline conditions--high pressure of pure oxygen. The stability of nucleic acids decreased in the following order: covalently closed circular DNA-linear DNA-RNA.