ATR-FTIR spectroscopy detects alterations induced by organotin(IV) carboxylates in MCF-7 cells at sub-cytotoxic/-genotoxic concentrations

TL;DR

This study uses ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and biological assays to detect DNA damage and biochemical alterations in MCF-7 cells caused by environmentally relevant concentrations of organotin(IV) carboxylates, highlighting their genotoxic potential.

Contribution

It introduces ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a novel method to detect biochemical changes induced by organotin(IV) compounds at sub-cytotoxic levels in human cells.

Findings

Organotin(IV) carboxylates cause DNA single-strand breaks.

Elevated micronucleus formation observed.

Infrared spectra reveal biochemical alterations.

Abstract

The environmental impact of metal complexes such as organotin(IV) compounds is of increasing concern. Genotoxic effects of organotin(IV) compounds (0.01 microg/ml, 0.1 microg/ml or 1.0 microg/ml) were measured using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay to measure DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay to determine micronucleus formation. Biochemical-cell signatures were also ascertained using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. In the comet assay, organotin(IV) carboxylates induced significantly-elevated levels of DNA SSBs. Elevated micronucleus-forming activities were also observed. Following interrogation using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, infrared spectra in the biomolecular range (900 cm-1 - 1800 cm-1) derived from orga...