Superoxide formation and DNA damage induced by a fragrant furanone in the presence of copper(II).

2,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (2,5-DMHF), a caramel-like fragrant compound found in may processed foodstuff, has been reported to be mutagenic. 4,5-Dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (4,5-DMHF), which is a similar characteristic fragrant compound, has no report concerning its mutagenicity. DNA damage by 2,5-DMHF and 4,5-DMHF was investigated by using DNA fragments obtained from the p53 tumor suppressor gene. 2,5-DMHF induced DNA damage extensively in the presence of Cu(II), but only slightly in the presence of Fe(III). 4,5-DMHF did not cause metal-dependent DNA damage. Bathocuproine, a Cu(I)-specific chelator, and catalase inhibited DNA damage induced by 2,5-DMHF plus Cu(II), whereas free hydroxyl radical scavengers did not. The order of DNA cleavage sites was thymine, cytosine > guanine residues. The site-specific DNA damage and effects of scavengers show that DNA-copper-oxygen complex rather than free .OH are involved in the DNA damage. Formation of 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) by 2,5-DMHF increased with its concentration in the presence of Cu(II), whereas 8-oxodG formation increased only slightly in the presence of Fe(III). Degradation of 2,5-DMHF was efficiently accelerated by Cu(II), but only slightly accelerated by Fe(III). The degradation of 4,5-DMHF was little even in the presence of metal ions. Examination using cytochrome c suggest that superoxide was generated from 2,5-DMHF. Stoichiometric study of Cu(II) reduction revealed that autoxidation of 2,5-DMHF could offer 4-electron reduction. These results suggest that, at least in vitro and in an acellular system, 2,5-DMHF generates superoxide and subsequently hydrogen peroxide to induce metal-dependent DNA damage.