Ferrocenecarboxaldehyde labeled DNA probe for the study on DNA damage and protection

A ferrocenecarboxaldehyde (FCA) labeled DNA probe is used for the first tim e in the study of DNA damage and protection. The electrochemically active r eagent FCA was labeled successfully on to a denatured calf-thymus DNA by 1- ethyl-3- (3-dimethyl-aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC). The: FCA labeled DNA probe was used to hybridize with the sample DNA sequence accumulated on the surface of a graphite electrode. The anodic peaks of the FCA bound to the double stranded DNA (dsDNA) by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were us ed for the detection of DNA damage and protection. Thiourea, sodium benzoic acid and isopropanol can decrease DNA damage by hydroxyl radicals, and the ir protection efficiencies are discussed.