Electrochemical Nucleic Acid Biosensors for the Detection of Interaction Between Peroxynitrite and DNA

We studied the reactivity of peroxynitrite and different nucleic acid molecules using DNA electrochemical biosensors. SIN‐1 (3‐morpholinosydnonimine) has been used for the simultaneous generation of NO?and superoxide, i.e., as a peroxynitrite (ONOO^?) donor. Double strand DNA (dsDNA), single strand DNA (ssDNA) and 15 guanine bases oligonucleotide (Oligo(dG)₁₅) were immobilized on a carbon paste electrode to generate the biosensor and DPV was selected as the electroanalytical technique. Results showed that electrochemical biosensors were very sensitive for detecting interaction between ONOO^? and DNA. A down/up effect was observed, i.e., at low ONOO^? concentrations the guanine oxidation signal decreased while at high ONOO^? concentrations the guanine oxidation current increased. Oligo(dG)₁₅ exhibited greater interaction at low ONOO^? concentrations than the other DNA molecules. The reactivity between ONOO^? and DNA was also evaluated in solution phase, showing the same down/up effect. Finally, the capacity of DNA to hybridize was prevented after interaction with ONOO^?.