Inhibition Of DNA Cleavage Research Articles

Disulfiram inhibits DNA breakage by hydroxyradical-producing agents

Disulfiram (Antabuse, tetraethylthiuram) inhibits DNA cleavage by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, ascorbate and cysteine. DNA cleavage by these agents is thought to be caused by hydroxyradicals which are formed during auto-oxidation in the presence of transition metals. H 2O 2 is an intermediate of these auto-oxidation reactions. The inhibitory action of disulfiram is at the level of hydroxyradical formation from H 2O 2 or at a later step of the reaction, since DNA cleavage by Fenton's reagent ( H 2 O 2 FeCl 2 ) is also inhibited. DNA methylation by N-methyl- N′-nitro- N-nitrosoguanidine or methylazoxymethanolacetate is not affected by disulfiram.