Dopamine oxidation promoted by human telomeric DNA models in the presence of a Cu() terpyridine chelate

We found that under oxidative stress conditions, the coexistence of human telomeric DNA (HT-DNA) and a copper-terpyridine metallodrug can accelerate dopamine oxidation. The unwinding of HT-DNA from a duplex to cytosine-rich (C-rich) and guanine-rich (G-rich) single strands promotes dopamine oxidation in a general order of C-rich > G-rich > duplex. Along with dopamine oxidation, HT-DNA also undergoes severe damage. The unwinding of human telomeric DNA from a duplex to cytosine-rich and guanine-rich single strands promotes dopamine depletion in a general order of C-rich > G-rich > duplex.