Comparison of the inactivation of Bacillus subtilis transforming DNA by the potassium superoxide and xanthine-xanthine oxidase systems for generating superoxide.

Potassium superoxide (KO2) and xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X-XO), which are known generating systems for the superoxide anion, have different inactivating actions on Bacillus subtilis transforming DNA in vitro. Superoxide dismutase and CuSO4 enhanced the inactivation for KO2, but not for X-XO. Mannitol, a hydroxyl radical scavenger, protected against the inactivation by X-XO, but not by KO2. The results obtained with X-XO were consistent with the involvement of Fenton reactions, in which hydroxyl radical is the reactive species that ultimately causes damage. On the other hand, KO2-induced inactivation was partly due to the effect of H2O2. Differences in inactivation between the KO2 and X-XO systems may result from the different rates of production of the superoxide anion.