Reduced Flavins Promote Oxidative DNA Damage in Non-respiringEscherichia coli by Delivering Electrons to Intracellular Free Iron

When cells are exposed to external H2O2, the H2O2rapidly diffuses inside and oxidizes ferrous iron, thereby forming hydroxyl radicals that damage DNA. Thus the process of oxidative DNA damage requires only H2O2, free iron, and an as-yet unidentified electron donor that reduces ferric iron to the …