Oxidative DNA damage induced by autoxidation of microquantities of S(IV) in the presence of Ni(II)-Gly-Gly-His.

NiIIGGH (GGH = glycylglycylhistidine) reacts rapidly with S(IV), in air-saturated solution, to produce NiIIIGGH. A mechanism is proposed where initial NiIII oxidizes SO3(2-) to SO3*-, which reacts with dissolved oxygen to produce SO5*-, initiating radical chain reactions. DNA strand breaks and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine formation were observed in air-saturated solutions containing micromolar concentrations of Ni(II) and S(IV). The extent of DNA damage showed dependence on the ratio of the NiIIGGH : S(IV) concentrations and the ionic strength.