DNA-bound peptide radicals generated through DNA-mediated electron transport

Flash-quench experiments were carried out to explore peptide/DNA electron-transfer reactions. DNA-bound [Ru(phen)(2)(dppz)](3+) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; dppz = dipyridophenazine) and [Ru (phen)(bpy')(dppz)](3+) [bpy' = 4-(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridyl)valerate], generated in situ by flash-quench methodology, are powerful ground-state oxidants, capable of oxidizing guanine or tyrosine intercalated in DNA. In flash-quench experiments with mixed-sequence oligonucleotides in the presence of Lys-Tyr-Lys, transient absorption spectroscopy yielded a spectrum with a sharp maximum at 405 nm assigned to the tyrosine radical. Experiments with poly(dG . dC) suggested the intermediacy of the guanine radical, since the rise of the 405 nm signal occurred with the same kinetics as the disappearance of the guanine radical, as monitored at 510 nm. In oligonucleotide duplexes containing [Ru(phen)(bpy')(dppz)](2+) tethered at one end, damage to distant guanines was observed by gel electrophoresis, consistent with the mobility of the electron hole through the DNA duplex; the presence of the peptide did not inhibit but instead altered the distribution of guanine damage. Covalent adducts of the DNA and Lys-Tyr-Lys were detected as final irreversible products of this peptide-to-DNA electron-transfer chemistry by mass spectrometric and enzymatic digestive analysis. From these different assays and comparison of reactions of Lys-Trp-Lys and Lys-Tyr-Lys, the reactivity of the DNA-bound tyrosine radical was found to differ considerably from that of the tryptophan radical. These results establish that Lys-Tyr-Lys and Lys-Trp-Lys can participate in long-range electron-transfer reactions through the DNA from a distinct binding site. On that basis, proposals for functional roles for these peptide radicals may be considered.