PHOTOLYSIS OF IODODEOXYCYTIDINE IN DNA AND RELATED POLYNUCLEOTIDES: WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE AND ENERGY TRANSFER*

Abstract— 5'-Iodocytosine (IC) containing denatured DNA and poly(C) were prepared and the photoinduced loss of iodine measured for irradiation at wavelengths between 240 and 313 nm. The following intrinsic quantum yields (Φ_INT) were obtained for irradiation at λ_ex > 300 nm where only IC absorbs: denatured DNA (0.01), poly(C) (0.013), apurinic acid (0.018) and IdCMP (0.026). These results suggest that geometrical or structural restraints in the polymer, which increase with the degree of base stacking, inhibit the loss of iodine from an excited IC residue. The variation in the photochemical cross section for iodine photolysis was measured as a function of the wavelength of irradiation and found to vary in a manner which indicates that absorption by noniodinated residues can lead to iodine photolysis. It is proposed that energy transfer from neighboring bases to an adjacent IC residue takes place, resulting in an action spectrum for iodine photolysis which reflects absorption of excitation energy by noniodinated as well as iodinated residues. The contribution due to energy transfer in denatured DNA was estimated to be from not more than a single base located on either side of an IC residue. The degree of transfer was slightly less in iodinated poly(C) and decreased 4-fold following depurination of the DNA. These results are consistent with a structurally dependent energy transfer process in which IC, because of its lower lying singlet state, can act as an energy trap.