Analysis of oxidative damage in calf thymus DNA solubilized in 3-methyl-1-butylimidazolium chloride

CHED 384

Martha S. Johnson, martha.s.johnson@jsums.edu and Naomi F. Campbell, naomi.campbell@jsums.edu. Department of Chemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 J. R. Lynch Street, P. O. Box 17910, Jackson, MS 39217
Ionic liquids are molten salts and are considered “green” solvent because unlike the typical volatile organic solvents they replace, ionic liquids have no measurable vapor pressure, remain in the liquid state throughout a temperature range of 200oC – 300oC and are easily recycled. Ionic liquids are usually composed of a large organic cation and a smaller inorganic anion and can be customized, like organic solvents, to dissolve a wide range of organic molecules including biological molecules. Hundreds of new ionic liquids are being synthesized yearly and very little research exists on the long-term effects of ionic liquids on biological systems. We characterized the extent of damage to calf thymus DNA solubilized in 5% 3-methyl-1-butylimidazolium chloride after exposure to varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Our initial results show less DNA damage from hydrogen peroxide to the calf thymus DNA solubilized in 5% 3-methyl-1-butylimidazolium chloride as compared to the DNA solubilized in 0.10 M sodium phosphate buffer. Acknowledgements: This research is supported by the Department of Defense through the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, MS; Contract #W912HZ-06.