Abstract
The in vitro effect of D-arabo-ascorbate-iron(II) complex ([DaA-Fe^<2+>]) on phages was investigated using a wide variety of phages. [DaA-Fe^<2+>] inactivated all nine phages examined. The mechanism of the inactivation was investigated with phages J1, S1, φX174, MS2 and φ6. Addition to the reaction mixture of hydrogen peroxide and transition metal ions enhanced the inactivation. Bubbling nitrogen through the reaction mixture inhibited the inactivation. Addition of reducing agents, chelating agents and radical scavengers inhibited the inactivation. The findings indicate that free radical mechanism is involved in the inactivation and reactive oxygen species are responsible for the inactivation. [DaA-Fe^<2+>] had no effects on bovine serum albumin and structural protein of phage J1. [DaA-Fe^<2+>] nicked supercoiled form of pUC18 DNA, giving first single-stranded breaks and then double-stranded breaks. Such breaks were found in double-stranded DNA from phage J1. The breaks could account for the phage-inactivation.
