DNA cleavage induced by the reaction of salsolinol with Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase

Salsolinol, endogenous neurotoxin, is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, we have investigated the oxidative damage of DNA induced by the reaction of salsolinol with Cu,Zn-SOD. When plasmid DNA incubated with salsolinol and Cu,Zn-SOD, DNA cleavage was proportional to the concentrations of salsolinol and Cu,Zn-SOD. The salsolinol/Cu,Zn-SOD system-mediated DNA cleavage was significantly inhibited by radical scavengers such as mannitol, ethanol and thiourea. These results indicated that free radicals might participate in DNA cleavage by the salsolinol/Cu,Zn-SOD system. Spectrophotometric study using a thiobarbituric acid showed that hydroxyl radical formation was proportional to the concentration of salsolinol and was inhibited by radical scavengers. These results indicated that hydroxyl radical generated in the reaction of salsolinol with Cu,Zn-SOD was implicated in the DNA cleavage. Catalase and copper chelators inhibited DNA cleavage and the production of hydroxyl radicals. These results suggest that DNA cleavage is mediated in the reaction of salsolinol with Cu,Zn-SOD via the generation of hydroxyl radical by a combination of the oxidation reaction of salsolinol and Fenton-like reaction of free copper ions released from oxidatively damaged SOD.