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. 1992 Dec 1;89(23):11428–11430. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.23.11428

Spermine and spermidine protection of plasmid DNA against single-strand breaks induced by singlet oxygen.

A U Khan 1, P Di Mascio 1, M H Medeiros 1, T Wilson 1
PMCID: PMC50564  PMID: 1454831

Abstract

Oxidative damage to DNA induced by singlet molecular oxygen (1O2*) includes single-strand breaks, which the biologically occurring 1O2* quenchers spermine and spermidine are shown to prevent. These polyamines at a physiological concentration (10 mM) reduce the percentage of the open circular form of pBR322 plasmid DNA, which is generated at the expense of the native supercoiled form when the plasmids are incubated with a chemical source of 1O2*, the water-soluble endoperoxide of 3,3'-(1,4-naphthylidene)dipropionate. Spermine and spermidine can be expected to protect DNA against other damaging effects of 1O2*.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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