Simple Electrochemical DNA Biosensor for Detection of DNA Damage Caused by UV Radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a common DNA damaging agent. Major DNA lesions, such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine-(6-4)-pyrimidone (6-4PPs) photoproducts, are carcinogenic and mutagenic. UV induced DNA damage was investigated using a simple electrochemical DNA biosensor based on an ultra-trace graphite electrode (UTGE) and low molecular weight doble-stranded DNA (dsDNA) from salmon sperm. Biosensor was prepared using adsorption of dsDNA on a surface of the UTGE and then used to detect UV-induced DNA damage. Effects of UV radiation were investigated using a combination of several electrochemical technics: square-wave voltammetry (SWV) for direct monitoring of DNA base oxidation and cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), as non-direct methods, using redox-active indicator [Fe(CN)6]4-/3- . CV and EIS, which allow characterization of electrode surface, were used to optimize preparation of the dsDNA/UTGE biosensor. Prepared dsDNA/UTGE biosensor was exposed to UV radiation using UV lamp with two set wavelengths: UVC of 254 nm and UVA of 365 nm. UVC radiation was used to damage DNA. Relative signal decrease was 50% after 20 minutes of exposure to UVC radiation. UVA radiation was used to compare effects of different types of UV radiation. Obtained..