STRAND SCISSION IN DNA INDUCED BY L-DOPA IN THE PRESENCE OF CU(II)

It has been recently reported that L-DOPA and CuO(II) in the presence of H2O2 leads to extensive DNA damage. In this paper we show that L-DO PA in the presence of CuO alone can cause DNA cleavage through the gen eration of reactive oxygen species such as the hydroxyl radical. Fluor escence quenching studies indicate that L-DOPA is capable of binding t o DNA.