ABSTRACT Copper is an essential trace metal that plays a vital role in the biochemistry of the human nervous system and is important for the function of several enzymes and proteins and for DNA synthesis. Perturbations in copper metabolism are associated with some neurological disorders. It is also reported that dopamine may play a role in cell death. Copper in the presence of dopamine generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hampers the DNA repair mechanism. There is now increasing evidence that altered metal homeostasis provides a link between oxidative damage and neuronal cell loss in the brain and plays a role in neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, we have attempted to understand the binding of copper and dopamine with DNA that alters the DNA conformation. This will provide clues as to how neurodegeneration may progress in the presence of both dopamine and copper. DNA damage and conformational changes induced by copper were studied by circular dichroism (CD). These observations were further supported by in silico molecular docking.
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