Competitive reactions of peroxynitrite with 2'-deoxyguanosine and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG): relevance to the formation of 8-oxodG in DNA exposed to peroxynitrite.

We have examined the formation of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in reactions of peroxynitrite with 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) and calf-thymus DNA. Peroxynitrite reacts with dG at neutral pH, but this reaction does not result in the buildup of 8-oxodG. We also do not find any evidence for the formation of 8-oxodG in calf-thymus DNA upon exposure to peroxynitrite. When 8-oxodG is mixed with 1000-fold excess dG and then allowed to react with peroxynitrite, about 50% of the 8-oxodG is destroyed. The preferential reaction of 8-oxodG is also evident when dG in calf-thymus DNA is partially oxidized in an Udenfriend system and then allowed to react with peroxynitrite. We suggest that 8-oxodG is not produced in peroxynitrite-mediated oxidations of dG and DNA or that it is produced but then is rapidly consumed in further reactions with peroxynitrite. Oxidized DNA bases frequently can be more oxidation sensitive than their corresponding progenitors and, therefore, may be present at] low steady-state concentrations and not represent stable markers of oxidative stress status. The importance of the 8-oxodG/peroxynitrite reaction is discussed in relation to the formation of more stable, secondary oxidation products that might be more useful markers of DNA damage.