Structural basis for DNA-cleaving activity of resveratrol in the presence of Cu(II).

Resveratrol (1, 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a polyphenol found in grapes and other food products, is known as an antioxidant and cancer chemopreventive agent. However, 1 was shown to induce genotoxicity through a high frequency of micronucleus and sister chromatid exchange in vitro and DNA-cleaving activity in the presence of Cu(II). The present study was designed to explore the structure-activity relationship of 1 in DNA strand scission and to characterize the substrate specificity for Cu(II) and DNA binding.