Photo-activated proflavine degrades protein and impairs enzyme activity: Involvement of hydroxyl radicals

Proflavine is a well-known antiseptic and bacteriostatic drug, however, it has the potential to be hazardous and mutagenic. Proflavine enters cells and intercalates between DNA base pairs, resulting in mutation and replication inhibition. Previously several investigators demonstrated that photo-activated proflavine generated double-stranded DNA breakage and protein structural alterations. The present study investigated the role of hydroxyl radical (·OH) due to activation of proflavine in the breakdown of protein and enzyme by photo-activated proflavine. The results show that the formation of hydroxyl radicals increased as the photo-illumination period increased, as did the concentrations of proflavine and Cu (II). As demonstrated by SDS-PAGE, the excess of free radicals due to proflavine resulted in oxidative modifications and degradation of BSA protein and trypsin enzyme. Additionally, with an increase in Cu (II) concentration, photo-illuminated proflavine induced a considerable loss of enzyme activity and also accelerated the degradation of the enzyme. Bathocuproine, a particular Cu (I)-sequestering agent, prevented protein degradation and enzyme inactivation. Hydroxyl radical scavengers inhibited the protein-damaging process, indicating that hydroxyl radicals play a substantial role in protein damage. The tryptophan moiety was quenched by proflavine, demonstrating that it binds to proteins and enzymes, changing their structure and activity. As a result, this study helps to better understand proflavine's deleterious influence on protein and enzyme degradation by oxygen-free radicals.