Oscillating formation of 8-oxoguanine during DNA oxidation.

Oxidation of free guanine and guanine in salmon testes ds-DNA by hydroxyl radicals generated with Fenton reagent resulted in oscillating 8-oxoguanine concentrations. These oscillations were superimposed on a general trend of decreasing ratio of [8-oxoguanine]/{[8-oxoguanine] + [guanine]} with time, suggesting that a steady state 8-oxoguanine concentration would not be achieved. Mass spectrometry detected 8-oxoguanine and 5-guanidinohydantoin as products, suggesting that the latter was the product of oxidation of 8-oxoguanine. Guanidinohydantoin and other possible intermediates and products may be involved in a complex mechanism leading to the observed behavior. Oscillatory fluctuations in 8-oxoguanine may need to be considered in assessing its clinical significance as a biomarker for oxidative DNA damage.