Photosensitization of DNA by ß-carbolines: kinetic analysis and photoproduct characterization.

ß-Carbolines (ßCs) are a group of alkaloids present in many plants and animals. It has been suggested that these alkaloids participate in a variety of significant photosensitized processes. Despite their well-established natural occurrence, the main biological role of these alkaloids and the mechanisms involved are, to date, poorly understood. In the present work, we examined the capability of three important ßCs (norharmane, harmane and harmine) and two of its derivatives (N-methyl-norharmane and N-methyl-harmane) to induce DNA damage upon UV-A excitation, correlating the type and extent of the damage with the photophysical characteristics and DNA binding properties of the compounds. The results indicate that DNA damage is mostly mediated by a direct type-I photoreaction of the protonated ßCs after non-intercalative electrostatic binding. Reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen and superoxide are not involved to a major extent, as indicated by the only small influence of D(2)O and of superoxide dismutase on damage generation. An analysis with repair enzymes revealed that oxidative purine modifications such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine, sites of base loss and single-strand breaks (SSB) are generated by all ßCs, while only photoexcited harmine gives rise to the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers as well.

Photosensitized cleavage of plasmidic DNA by norharmane, a naturally occurring beta-carboline.

UV-A radiation (320-400 nm) induces damages to the DNA molecule and its components through photosensitized reactions. Beta-carbolines (betaCs), heterocyclic compounds widespread in biological systems, participate in several biological processes and are able to act as photosensitizers. The photosensitization of plasmidic DNA by norharmane in aqueous solution under UV-A radiation was studied. The effect of pH was evaluated and the participation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radical (HO*), superoxide anion (O(2)(*-)) and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) was investigated. A strong dependence of the photosensitized DNA relaxation on the pH was observed. The extent of the reaction was shown to be higher in the experiments performed at pH 4.7 than those performed at pH 10.2. As was expected, an intermediate extent of the reaction was observed at physiological pH (pH 7.4). Kinetic studies using ROS scavengers revealed that the chemical reactions between ROS and DNA are not the main pathways responsible for the damage of DNA. Consequently, the predominant mechanism yielding the DNA strand break takes place most probably via a type I mechanism (electron transfer) from the single excited state (S(1)) of the protonated form of norharmane ((1)[nHoH(+)]*). Additional information about the nature of the norharmane electronic excited states involved in the photocleavage reaction was obtained by using the N-methyl derivative of norharmane (N-methyl-norharmane).