Emerging Field Oxidative Stress and DNA Stability

Oxidative stress is “a condition that is characterised by the accumulation of non-enzymatic oxidative damage to molecules that threaten the normal functions of a cell or the organism”. It is involved in the aetiology of a large number of human diseases such as cancer, neuropathological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. Also coronary heart diseases which are the major cause of death in industrialised countries seem to be causally related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) meditated damage and it has been stressed that oxidative damage is involved in the progression of ageing.
The continuous exposure to ROS from exogenous and endogenous sources results in oxidative damage of cell components and alterations of cellular functions. Some of these changes can be used as markers of oxidative stress.
A large number of different techniques have been developed to monitor oxidative damage and its consequences. Besides, these approaches can be used to identify dietary antioxidants and their mode of action.

We as an experimental working group are focusing thereby on lifestyle factors such as the diet, single food compounds, phytochemicals, physical exercise and physiological active non food compounds (e.g. bile pigments) on Oxidative Stress and DNA Stability.
We are exploring the topic with modern techniques for the determination of antioxidative compounds, biochemical methods to monitor the oxidation of macromolecules and their oxidation products, approaches for the detection of ROS induced DNA-damage and methods used to measure antioxidant enzymes and transcriptional factors.

Research activities are mainly funded by the Austrian Science Fund, European Commission, European Union – Cross Border Co-operation and the University of Vienna.
A large scientific network of worldwide research partners guarantees comprehensive approaches, knowledge transfer and continuous development of new biomarker.