Reactive oxygen species (ROS), in particular singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals, have been shown to cut DNA. However, it is still unknown as to which ROS species contributes to DNA damage and indeed breaks DNA more readily. In our lab, we use a microwave-assisted technology (Lyse-It™) to break open (lyse) bacterial cells while also fragmenting genomic DNA. This microwave lysing technology has been shown to reduce the bacterial preparation time for DNA detection on platforms such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Microwave-Assisted Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MAMEF) assays by taking the conventional two-step process of lysis and DNA fragmentation, and combining them into one simple low-cost and rapid step. One of the mechanisms by which we think DNA fragmentation is occurring is through the interaction of DNA with reactive oxygen species. We have subsequently studied the generation of singlet oxygen during and post microwave irradiation of bacterial suspensions with the fluorescent probe sensor green and have explored the generation of hydroxyl radicals via detection with the fluorescent probe hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF). In this presentation, we demonstrate that microwave irradiation of bacterial suspensions has the potential to generate ROS which aid in fragmenting DNA. <br/>

DNA damage through microwave irradiation generated reactive oxygen species

254th National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.