Oxidative damage produced by Cr(VI) and repair in mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) gill

This study has assessed DNA damage induced by oxidative stress and its subsequent repair in mussels. Gill was obtained from mussels collected from New Brighton, UK within 24 h and also after 1 month maintenance under laboratory conditions. The pro-oxidant sodium dichromate produced a statistically significant increase in DNA strand breaks (DSB) in these gill cells at both time points as measured by the COMET assay. The response was higher at 1 month in association with a higher concentration of GSH which is known to activate Cr(VI) producing reactive oxygen species. DSB were shown, through studies in wild type and OGG-1-null mouse fibroblasts, to be produced by repair enzymes in response to Cr(VI). In support of evidence for repair of oxidative DNA damage, we have also demonstrated for the first time repair activity in mussel gill towards 8-oxo-dG using an oligonucleotide cutting assay.