Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun.
2011, 76, 1799-1810
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc2011151
Published online 2012-01-19 10:34:36
Early stage of nucleic acid electrochemistry. Detection of DNA damage in X-ray-irradiated rats
Emil Paleček
Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract
First papers on electroactivity of DNA and RNA were published more then 50 years ago. For about 8 years oscillographic polarography at controlled a.c. (OP, proposed by J. Heyrovský already in 1941) was the method of choice for DNA analysis. Since approximately 1954 Robert Kalvoda developed OP for wide application in various fields. It is shown that already before 1960 it was possible to detect damage to DNA in X-ray-irradiated rats by means of OP. DNA samples from irradiated animals produced significantly larger OP anodic guanine signal indicating changes in the DNA structure. At present, radiation-induced strand breaks and damage to bases in DNA can be electrochemically detected at high sensitivity.
Keywords: Electrochemistry of nucleic acids; Oscillographic polarography; DNA damage; Ionizing radiation; Mercury electrodes.
References: 109 live references.
