Measurement of the Oxidative DNA Lesion 8-Oxoguanine (8-oxoG) by ELISA or by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with Electrochemical Detection

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can oxidize cellular macromolecules like DNA, causing DNA damage. The most common form of DNA damage is the 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) lesion, typically repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathway, which is initiated by the enzyme oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1). ROS are produced endogenously and can be enhanced by environmental factors, such as xenobiotics, radiation, and microbial pathogens. As a commonly used biomarker of oxidative damage, 8-oxoG can be measured in two different ways described herein. Commercially available ELISA kits allow for easy detection of the 8-oxoG lesion, while more difficult HPLC assays with UV and electrochemical detection allow for a more definitive identification and quantification of 8-oxoG.