Generation of oxy radicals in biosystems.

Many recent lines of evidence indicate that endogenous free radicals contribute to spontaneous mutagenesis through the direct induction of DNA damage. However, the mechanisms underlying this process are not yet fully understood. A brief overview of the knowledge that is currently available is provided here, with emphasis on the generation of oxy radicals in biosystems, the reactions of those radicals with biomolecules, and the induction of oxidative DNA base damage that might lead to mutation.