Toxic effect of 2,2’-bis(bicyclo[2.2.1] heptane) on bacterial cells

Abstract

Here we present the study of the genotoxic effect of a 2,2’-bis(bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane) (BBH), which is promising as a fuel component for liquid rocket engines. The use of Escherichia coli lux-biosensors showed that in addition to DNA damage causing SOS-response, there is also an oxidative effect on cells. The greatest toxicity is determined by the mechanism of formation of superoxide anion radical and is detected by the lux biosensor E. coli pSoxS-lux, in which the genes of bacterial luciferases are transcriptionally crosslinked with the promoter of the soxS gene. It is assumed that the oxidation of BBH leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species, which should give the main contribution to the toxicity of this substance.