Analysis of DNA adducts bases by capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection

We have developed a method for the detection of DNA adducts by combining ca pillary electrophoresis (CE) with the specificity of amperometric detection . Guanine is the most easily damaged base of the four normal DNA bases and many adducts of guanine have been found in DNA. These guanine adducts are o ften electrochemically active, while the normal bases with the exception of guanine are not. Therefore, CE with amperometric detection will be a promi sing method to study DNA damage. The four normal deoxynucleosides and two d amaged deoxnucleosides N-2-ethyldeoxyguanosine (N-2-ethyl-dG) and 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), were completely separated by micellar electrokine tic chromatography (MEKC). Deoxyguanosine and the two damaged deoxynucleosi des were identified using amperometric detection. The sensitivity of our sy stem was comparable to that of UV detection. Analysis of DNA hydrolysis pro ducts was also performed briefly using this method.