Nick translation studies on DNA strand breaks in pBR322 plasmid induced by different chromium species

Single strand breaks are DNA defects caused by various chemicals. DNA strand breaks induced in vitro by chromium(VI) during the reduction of this chromium species with glutathione or hydrogen peroxide were examined. Using DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and a nick translation assay, strand breaks were detected only when chromium(VI) was reduced by hydrogen peroxide. The reduction of chromium(VI) by an excess of glutathione led to no alteration in the DNA agarose gel electrophoresis pattern of the double-stranded plasmid pBR322 DNA and in the nick translation assay, indicating that no strand breaks had occurred under these conditions. No strand breaks could be detected during the reduction by hydrogen peroxide after the addition of superoxide dismutase. This indicates that hydroxyl radicals from peroxochromium complexes may be a relevant reactive species involved in chromate genotoxicity.