INTENSE OXIDATIVE DNA-DAMAGE PROMOTED BY L-DOPA AND ITS METABOLITES IMPLICATIONS FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE

Oxidative DNA damage can cause mutation and cell death. We show that L -DOPA, dopamine and 3-O-methyl-DOPA cause extensive oxidative DNA dama ge in the presence of H2O2 and traces of copper ions. 8-Hydroxyguanine is the major product. Iron ions were much less effective and manganes e ions did not catalyse DNA damage. We propose that copper ion release , in the presence of L-DOPA and its metabolites, may be an important m echanism of neurotoxicity, e.g. in Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.