Effect of hydrogen peroxide on mammalian chromatin: electron microscopic studies

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S Chaudhuri1, S Sengupta, N P Bhattacharyya

  • 1Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Calcutta, India.

Journal of Electron Microscopy
|August 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Hydrogen peroxide and iron induced changes in chromatin structure, causing fiber aggregation. This damage is likely due to DNA crosslinking from the Fenton reaction.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Chromatin structure is crucial for DNA packaging and regulation.
  • Oxidative stress can damage cellular components, including DNA and proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of hydrogen peroxide and iron on chromatin morphology in vitro.
  • To explore the potential mechanisms of chromatin damage induced by the Fenton reaction.

Main Methods:

  • Purification of chromatin from rat liver and Chinese hamster V79 cells.
  • In vitro treatment of chromatin with hydrogen peroxide and iron.
  • Transmission electron microscopy for morphological analysis.

Main Results:

  • Treatment with hydrogen peroxide and iron altered the native morphology of chromatin.
  • Evidence of chromatin fiber aggregation was observed.
  • The observed changes suggest DNA-protein and DNA interstrand crosslinking.

Conclusions:

  • The Fenton reaction, involving hydrogen peroxide and iron, induces significant structural damage to chromatin.
  • DNA crosslinking is a likely mechanism responsible for chromatin aggregation under oxidative stress.

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