Poster abstracts
Poster number 41 submitted by Matthew Ellis
An Investigation into RNA Oxidation Using Radical Precursors
Matthew W. Ellis (Medicinal & Biological Chemistry, The University of Toledo), Raziya Shaik (Medicinal & Biological Chemistry, The University of Toledo), Matthew J. Starr (Medicinal & Biological Chemistry, The University of Toledo), Dr. Amanda Bryant-Friedrich (Medicinal & Biological Chemistry, The University of Toledo)
Abstract:
Reactive oxygen species can cause oxidative damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins. It has been shown that oxidative damage to RNA plays a role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Modified uridines were synthesized and subjected to photolytic activation, generating a C5’- uridinyl radical mimicking hydrogen atom abstraction under conditions of oxidative stress. These studies were done under anaerobic conditions in the presence or absence of glutathione to the diversity of damage products that may form depending upon the cellular environment. Identification of these damage products may assist in the development of new assays based on biomarkers of oxidative damage. Preliminary monomer studies indicate that the base elimination product uracil is the major product when the radical of interest is generated in the absence of glutathione while the expected reduction product uridine is the major constituent formed in the presence of glutathione.
References:
Nunomura, Akihiko et. al. "RNA Oxidation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Sublethal Damage as a Mechanism for Chronic Degeneration". Yamanashi Med. J. 23 (4), 75-95, 2008.
Keywords: Oxidative Damage, Ribose, Organic Synthesis