Covalent Bonds with DNA bases - Toxicology

What are Covalent Bonds with DNA Bases?

Covalent bonds with DNA bases are strong chemical bonds where toxic substances form a stable link with the DNA. These bonds involve the sharing of electron pairs between atoms, leading to a permanent connection that can interfere with the normal function of DNA.

How do these Bonds Form?

Covalent bonds with DNA bases typically form when electrophilic chemicals, such as certain carcinogens, react with the nucleophilic sites on DNA. This reaction often occurs due to the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or other reactive intermediates generated during metabolic processes.

What Types of Toxic Substances are Involved?

Various toxic substances can form covalent bonds with DNA bases. Notable examples include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aflatoxins, and alkylating agents. These substances can be found in tobacco smoke, certain foods, and industrial chemicals.

What are the Consequences of Covalent Bonding with DNA?

The formation of covalent bonds with DNA bases can lead to mutations and disrupt the normal genetic processes. Such disruptions can result in the activation of oncogenes or the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, thereby increasing the risk of cancer development.

How is DNA Damage Detected and Repaired?

Cells have evolved several DNA repair mechanisms to detect and repair covalent bonds with DNA bases. These mechanisms include nucleotide excision repair (NER), base excision repair (BER), and mismatch repair (MMR). The efficiency of these repair systems is crucial in preventing the accumulation of genetic damage.

Can Covalent Bonding with DNA be Prevented?

While complete prevention is challenging, exposure to toxic substances that form covalent bonds with DNA can be minimized. This includes avoiding known carcinogens, maintaining a diet rich in antioxidants, and using protective measures in occupational settings. Regulatory standards and guidelines also play a significant role in reducing exposure to these harmful substances.

What are the Implications in Toxicology?

Understanding covalent bonding with DNA bases is essential in toxicology for risk assessment and the development of therapeutic interventions. It aids in identifying biomarkers of exposure and effect, and in designing drugs that can either prevent or repair DNA damage. This knowledge also informs public health policies and regulatory frameworks aimed at reducing the burden of environmentally and occupationally related diseases.

Relevant Publications

Compelling DNA intercalation through \'anion-anion\' anti-coulombic interactions: boron cluster self-vehicles as promising anticancer agents.

Issue Release: 2024

Shaping eukaryotic epigenetic systems by horizontal gene transfer.

Issue Release: 2023

On the Interaction between Superatom AlBe and DNA Nucleobases/Base Pairs: Bonding Nature and Potential Applications in O Activation and CO Oxidation.

Issue Release: 2020

Interplay of Ring Puckering and Hydrogen Bonding in Deoxyribonucleosides.

Issue Release: 2019

Electronic properties of DNA: Description of weak interactions in TATA-box-like chains.

Issue Release: 2017

Pendimethalin induces oxidative stress, DNA damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction to trigger apoptosis in human lymphocytes and rat bone-marrow cells.

Issue Release: 2017

Nucleotide Binding Preference of the Monofunctional Platinum Anticancer-Agent Phenanthriplatin.

Issue Release: 2016

Modeling of Toxicity-Relevant Electrophilic Reactivity for Guanine with Epoxides: Estimating the Hard and Soft Acids and Bases (HSAB) Parameter as a Predictor.

Issue Release: 2016

Unravelling Protein-DNA Interactions at Molecular Level: A DFT and NCI Study.

Issue Release: 2016

Improvement of DNA recognition through molecular imprinting: hybrid oligomer imprinted polymeric nanoparticles (oligoMIP NPs).

Issue Release: 2016

The Role of Aromaticity, Hybridization, Electrostatics, and Covalency in Resonance-Assisted Hydrogen Bonds of Adenine-Thymine (AT) Base Pairs and Their Mimics.

Issue Release: 2015

Reactions of electrophiles with nucleophilic thiolate sites: relevance to pathophysiological mechanisms and remediation.

Issue Release: 2015

One-Dimensional Multichromophor Arrays Based on DNA: From Self-Assembly to Light-Harvesting.

Issue Release: 2015

In vitro interactions between 17β-estradiol and DNA result in formation of the hormone-DNA complexes.

Issue Release: 2014

Interaction study of ciprofloxacin with human telomeric DNA by spectroscopy and molecular docking.

Issue Release: 2013

Conformation-dependent exonuclease III activity mediated by metal ions reshuffling on thymine-rich DNA duplexes for an ultrasensitive electrochemical method for Hg2+ detection.

Issue Release: 2013

Theoretical simulations on interactions of mono- and dinuclear metallonucleases with DNA.

Issue Release: 2013

Molecular beam mass spectrometry with tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation.

Issue Release: 2012

Structural, energetic and dynamic properties of guanine(C8)-thymine(N3) cross-links in DNA provide insights on susceptibility to nucleotide excision repair.

Issue Release: 2011

Density functional theory studies of interactions of ruthenium-arene complexes with base pair steps.

Issue Release: 2011

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