Protection by Carnosine and Homocarnosine against L-DOPA-Fe(III)-Mediated DNA Cleavage

It has been proposed that oxidation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. In this study, L-DOPA-Fe(III)-mediated DNA cleavage and the protection by carnosine and homocarnosine against this reaction were investigated. When plasmid DNA was incubated with L-DOPA in the presence of Fe(III), DNA strand was cleaved. Radical scavengers and catalase significantly inhibited the DNA breakage. These results suggest that $H_2O_2$ may be generated from the oxidation of DOPA and then $Fe^{3+}$ likely participates in a Fenton’s type reaction to produce hydroxyl radicals, which may cause DNA cleavage. Carnosine and homocarnosine have been proposed to act as anti-oxidants in vivo. The protective effects of carnosine and homocarnosine against L-DOPA-Fe(III)-mediated DNA cleavage have been studied. Carnosine and homocarnosine significantly inhibited DNA cleavage. These compounds also inhibited the production of hydroxyl radicals in L-DOPA/$Fe^{3+}$ system. The results suggest that carnosine and homocarnosine act as hydroxyl radical scavenger to protect DNA cleavage. It is proposed that carnosine and homocarnosine might be explored as potential therapeutic agents for pathologies that involve damage of DNA by oxidation of DOPA.