Hydrogen peroxide commences copper induced DNA damage isolated from human blood: In vitro study

The present study revealed the damaging effects of copper and hydrogen peroxide on DNA isolated from human blood in in vitro. Ultra violet spectral studies showed that copper and H₂O₂ alone (at 20 mM) caused destabilization of DNA structure. Notwithstanding, the effect was more prominent in combination of copper and H₂O₂. Further, agarose gel electrophoretic studies revealed that neither copper nor H ₂O₂ alone had DNA fragmentation (up to 40 mM concentration), while copper and H₂O₂ together caused massive DNA fragmentation even at lower concentrations (4 mM copper + 4 mM H₂O₂). Therefore, it was concluded from the present study that the observed destabilization of DNA associated with alterations in configuration and subsequently massive DNA fragmentation was in response to copper and H₂O₂. Further, fluorescence spectroscopy and TUNNEL assay will address destabilization and fragmentation of naked DNA more precisely.