METALLODRUG COMPLEXES THAT MEDIATE DNA AND LIPID DAMAGE VIA SULFITE AUTOXIDATION - COPPER(II) FAMOTIDINE AND IRON(III) BIS(SALICYLGLYCINE)

Random DNA damage via the autoxidation of sulfite is observed to be me diated by micromolar concentrations of copper(II) and iron(III) metall odrug complexes. Importantly, these results are in contrast to observa tions made for nickel(II) complexes, where guanine-specific modificati on of DNA was observed. While the exact mechanism is not known, alcoho l-quenching studies suggest the possible formation of sulfuroxyl radic als (SO3-., SO5-.). Furthermore, these complexes are also observed to be effective catalysts for lipid oxidation. This study represents the first observation of DNA and lipid damage by sulfite and copper(ll) an d iron(III) coordination compounds and may lend insight to the biologi cal toxicity of these transition metals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A . AU rights reserved.