ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to correlate local variations in the distribution of hydroxyl radical in chromatin with the carcinogenic potential of metal compounds. It discusses the metal compounds and antitumor antibiotics that generate chromatin-associated hydroxyl radical. This information is essential for understanding the mechanisms of carcinogenicity of transition metals. Exposure of populations to inorganic carcinogens as a result of pathological states and industrial or environmental conditions represents an acknowledged cancer hazard and the mechanism of carcinogenicity continues to be scrutinized. One important mechanism of action of the metals copper, iron, and possibly chromium is the production of chromatin lesions via oxidizing free radicals, hydroxyl radicals in particular. As such, knowledge concerning the fate of the generated hydroxyl radical is imperative for an adequate understanding of the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of these metals. Hydroxyl radical is a species with high electrophilicity and high thermochemical reactivity and, as such, has a high reactivity toward most biomolecules including DNA.
