Voltammetric studies of the interaction of genotoxic 2-nitrofluorene with DNA.

The interaction of genotoxic environmental pollutant 2-nitrofluorene (2-NF) with double-stranded DNA has been studied using a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE) as an electrochemical sensor. Two types of DNA damage were investigated and electrochemically detected using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry: (i) DNA damage caused by the direct interaction with 2-NF and (ii) DNA damage caused by short-lived radicals generated by the electrochemical reduction of 2-NF. For the study of the direct interaction, the HMDE was modified by DNA and the interaction of DNA with 2-NF was studied after their mutual interaction right at the HMDE surface, or DNA was preincubated with 2-NF in solution and, subsequently, the interaction was studied voltammetrically.