Variation in the modulation of superoxide-induced single-strand breaks in plasmid pBR322 DNA by biological antioxidants.

Superoxide radical (O2-.), generated by the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, induces significant amount (20%) of single-strand breaks in plasmid pBR322 DNA. This is almost completely inhibited by its specific scavenger, superoxide dismutase. The biological antioxidants, at near physiological concentrations show great variation in their modulation of DNA damage induced by O2-.. The thiols glutathione, cysteine and dithiothreitol do not protect DNA, instead they greatly enhance the strand-breaking activity of this free radical. However, the lipid soluble antioxidants tannic acid, butein, canthaxanthin, beta-carotene and lipoate offered significant protection to plasmid DNA against O2-.. Since O2-. is the most abundant reactive oxygen species generated, the above mentioned modulating abilities of biological antioxidants may have significant biological implications.