Electron attachment-induced DNA single strand breaks: C3'-O3' sigma-bond breaking of pyrimidine nucleotides predominates

A detailed understanding of DNA strand breaks induced by low energy electrons (LEE) is of crucial importance for the advancement of many areas of molecular biology and medicine. To elucidate the mechanism of DNA strand breaks by LEEs, theoretical investigations of the electron attachment-induced C3'-O3' sigma-bond breaking of the pyrimidine nucleotides have been performed. Calculations of 2'-deoxycytidine-3'-monophosphate and 2'-deoxythymidine-3'-monophosphate in their protonated form (denoted as 3'-dCMPH and 3'-dTMPH) have been carried out with the reliably calibrated B3LYP/DZP++ theoretical approach. Our results demonstrate that the transfer of the negative charge from the pi*-orbital of the radical anion of pyrimidines to the DNA backbone does not pass through the N1-glycosidic bond. Instead, the migration of the excessive negative charge through the atomic orbital overlap between the C6 of pyrimidine and the C3' of ribose most likely represents a pathway that subsequently leads to the strand breaks. The proposed mechanism of the LEE-induced single strand breaks in DNA assumes that the formation of the base-centered radical anions is the first step in this process. Subsequently, these electronically stable radical anions may undergo either C-O bond breaking or N-glycosidic bond rupture. The present investigation of 3'-dCMPH and 3'-dTMPH yields an energy barrier of 6.2-7.1 kcal/mol for the C3'-O3' sigma-bond cleavage. This is much lower than the energy barriers required for the C5'-O5' sigma-bond and the N1-glycosidic bond break. Therefore, we conclude that the C3'-O3' sigma-bond rupture dominates the LEE-induced single strand breaks of DNA.     

Hydrolysis of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenosin-5'-yl bis-5'-O-methyluridin-3'-yl phosphate: the 2'-hydroxy group stabilizes the phosphorane intermediate, not the departing 3'-oxyanion, by hydrogen bonding

Hydrolytic reactions of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenosin-5'-yl bis-5'-O-methyluridin-3'-yl phosphate (1a) have been followed by RP HPLC over a wide pH range to elucidate the role of the 2'-OH group as an intermolecular hydrogen bond donor facilitating the cleavage of 1a. At pH < 2, where the decomposition of 1 is first-order in hydronium-ion concentration, the P-O5' and P-O3' bonds are cleaved equally rapidly. Over a relatively wide range from pH 2 to 4, the hydrolysis is pH-independent and the P-O5' bond is cleaved 1.6 times as rapidly as the P-O3' bond. At pH 6, the reaction becomes first-order in hydroxide-ion concentration and cleavage of the P-O3' bond starts to predominate, accounting for 89% of the overall hydrolysis in 10 mmol L(-)(1) aqueous sodium hydroxide. Under alkaline conditions, the 2'-OH group facilitates the cleavage of 1 by a factor of 27 compared to the 2'-OMe counterpart, the influence on the P-O3' and P-O5' bond cleavage being equal. Accordingly, the 2'-hydroxy group stabilizes the phosphorane intermediate, not the departing 3'-oxyanion, by hydrogen bonding.     

Hydrolysis of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenos-5'-yl bis(2',5'-di-O-methylurid-3'-yl) phosphate, a sugar O-alkylated trinucleoside 3',3',5'-monophosphate: implications for the mechanism of large ribozymes

Hydrolytic reactions of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenos-5'-yl bis(2',5'-di-O-methylurid-3'-yl) phosphate (1), a sugar O-alkylated trinucleoside 3',3',5'-monophosphate, have been followed by RP HPLC over a wide pH range. Under neutral and mildly acidic conditions, the only reaction observed was a pH-independent cleavage of the O-C5' bond of the 5'-linked nucleoside. Under more alkaline conditions nucleophilic attack by hydroxide ion starts to compete. The reaction is first order in [OH(-)] and becomes predominant at pH 10. Each of the 3'-linked nucleosides is displaced 2.9 times as readily as the 5'-linked one. To determine the beta(lg) value for the hydroxide ion catalyzed hydrolysis of 1, two diesters (2a,b) having 2',3'-O-methyleneadenosine (7) and 2',5'-di-O-methyluridine (4) as leaving groups were hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions. Since the beta(lg) value for this reaction is known, DeltapK(a) between 4 and 7 could be calculated. The beta(lg) for the hydrolysis of 1 was estimated to be -0.5 with use of this information. The mechanisms of the partial reactions and the role of leaving group properties in ribozyme reactions of large ribozymes are discussed.     

Synthesis, photochemistry and application of (7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl)methyl-caged 8-bromoadenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate and 8-bromoguanosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate photolyzed in the nanosecond time region

New caged derivatives of hydrolysis-resistant 8-bromoadenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP) and 8-bromoguanosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) are described. The compounds are the axial and equatorial isomers of the (7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl)methyl (MCM) esters of cyclic nucleotides. Synthesis is accomplished by treatment of 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin with the tetra-n-butylammonium salts of the 8-bromo-substituted cyclic nucleotides or with the free acids of 8-Br-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP in the presence of silver(I) oxide. MCM-caged 8-Br-cAMP and MCM-caged 8-Br-cGMP liberate 8-Br-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP during irradiation with ultraviolet light within a few nanoseconds. They show favorable absorption properties and quantum yields and are resistant to hydrolysis in aqueous buffer solutions. The moderate fluorescence properties of the caged compounds in comparison with the strongly fluorescent 4-hydroxymethyl-7-methoxycoumarin (MCM-OH) photoproduct allow the indirect estimation of the amount of photolytically released cyclic nucleotides in aqueous buffer solutions using fluorescence measurements. Their usefulness for physiological studies has been examined in a mammalian cell line expressing the cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel of bovine olfactory sensory neurons using the patch-clamp technique and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The caged compounds serve as efficient and rapid intracellular sources of 8-Br-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP. However, at least in HEK 293 cells, fluorescence signals cannot be used to monitor the photolysis of MCM-caged 8-Br-cAMP and 8-Br-cGMP, due to quenching of the fluorescence of MCM-OH.     

Far-UV photochemistry and photosensitization of 2'-deoxycytidylyl-(3'-5')-thymidine: isolation and characterization of the main photoproducts.

Far-UV irradiation of 2'-deoxycytidylyl-(3'-5')-thymidine (dCpT) gave rise to the pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone adduct and its Dewar valence isomer as the main photoproducts. The absolute configuration of the former adduct was determined and its photoisomerization studied. A comparison of the alkali lability of both compounds showed that hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bond occurs for the Dewar valence isomer but not for its (6-4) precursor. In addition, the trans-syn and cis-syn cyclobutane dimers of dCpT were obtained by acetophenone photosensitization and characterized. Finally, the deamination rate constants for this series of compounds were shown to be dramatically influenced by the nature and the configuration of the photoproducts.     

氯乙基亚硝基脲烷化碱基导致DNA单链断裂的机理研究

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)和MΦller-Pleset微扰理论(MP)方法对氯乙基亚硝基脲(CENUs)烷化DNA碱基导致单链断裂的机理进行了研究. 对包括CENUs的分解、DNA碱基的烷化、糖苷键的水解、脱嘌呤位点的开环以及最终导致单链断裂的磷酸二酯的消除在内的多步反应过程进行了探讨. 在B3LYP/6-31++G**水平上对各驻点(反应物、中间体、过渡态和生成物)进行了全几何结构优化; 为了模拟细胞环境, 采用自洽场连续极化模型(CPCM)在相同计算水平上对各驻点进行了水相中的单点能计算或全几何结构优化. 分别在B3LYP/6-31++G**和MP2/6-311++G**水平上绘出反应势能曲线, 结果显示, 在整个反应过程中, 磷酸二酯的消除反应能垒最高, 而氯乙基重氮盐离子烷化DNA碱基的反应能垒最低. 理论分析结果表明, CENUs 一旦分解便很容易烷化DNA碱基, 随后生成的氯乙基化鸟嘌呤会迅速从DNA链上脱去, 尽管如此, 脱嘌呤位点最终导致DNA单链断裂的一系列反应则是一个缓慢的过程, 这与断链反应的动力学实验结果相符合.     

Synthesis of the TT pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproduct-thio analogue phosphoramidite building block

The phosphoramidite building block synthesis of the thio analogue at the 5,6-dihydropyrimidine C5 position of the thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine (6-4) photoproduct 1 is presented. This compound was readily obtained from the appropriately protected dinucleotide P-methyl-5'-O-dimethoxytritylthymidilyl(3' --> 5')-4-thiothymidine 2 after irradiation at 366 nm, then S-sulfenylmethylation of the thiol function of the resulting (6-4) adduct, and phosphitylation of the 3'-hydroxyl group.     

Crystal structure and photochemical behavior in solution of the 3'-N-sulfamate analogue of thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine

The 3'-N-sulfamate analogue of thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine (TnsoT, 1) exhibits a preference for a C3'-endo conformation in the solution and solid states. Its photochemical behavior in solution is compared to that of its natural counterpart, thymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine (TpT, 2), to get further insight into the significance of the C3'-endo conformation on the photoproduct formation at the single-stranded dinucleotide level. Irradiation at 254 nm of 1 led to the same type of photoproducts as observed with 2. However, 1 was significantly more photoreactive than 2, and accordingly, the initial rate of photoproduct formation was enhanced in accordance with its propensity to base stack compared to 2. The corresponding quantum yields were determined and showed that the enhancement factor (1 compared to 2) is moderate for the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) (1.26) and much higher for the (6-4) photoproduct (1.8). These data strongly suggest that the CPD and (6-4) photoproduct arise from distinct minor stacked conformations.     

Macrocyclic amines as catalysts of the hydrolysis of the triphosphate bridge of the mRNA 5'-cap structure

The reactions of a 5'-cap model compound P1-(7-methylguanosine) P3-guanosine 5',5'-triphosphate, m7GpppG, were studied in the presence of three different macrocyclic amines (2-4) under neutral conditions. The only products observed in the absence of the macrocycles resulted from the base-catalysed imidazole ring-opening and the acid-catalysed cleavage of the N7-methylguanosine base, whereas in the presence of these catalysts hydrolysis of the triphosphate bridge predominated. The latter reaction yielded guanosine 5'-monophosphate, guanosine 5'-diphosphate, 7-methylguanosine 5'-monophosphate and 7-methylguanosine 5'-diphosphate as the initial products, indicating that both of the phosphoric anhydride bonds were cleaved. The overall catalytic activity of all three macrocycles was comparable. The hydrolysis to guanosine 5'-diphosphate and 7-methylguanosine 5'-monophosphate was slightly more favoured than the cleavage to yield guanosine 5'-monophosphate and 7-methylguanosine diphosphate. All the macrocycles also enhanced the subsequent hydrolysis of the nucleoside diphosphates, 2 being more efficient than 3 and 4.     

The impact of protonation and deprotonation of 3-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine on N-glycosidic bond cleavage

The enzyme-substrate contacts that are believed to be involved in depurination by proton transfer have been modelled by protonation and deprotonation of 3-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (3-MDA) using quantum mechanical calculations in the gas-phase and solution media. The change in the charge distribution on the sugar ring and nucleobase that is introduced by the protonation and deprotonation strongly affects the N-glycosidic bond length. The unimolecular cleavage and hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic bond, involving D(N)*A(N) and A(N)D(N) pathways, have been considered at several levels of theory. The trend in the energy barriers is A(N)D(N) > cleavage > D(N)*A(N). All probable proton transfer reactions resulting from enzyme-substrate contacts do not facilitate the N-glycosidic bond cleavage of 3-MDA. The deprotonation of 3-MDA that may result from the interaction between H6 and enzyme do not facilitate bond cleavage. The protonation at N7 induces more positive charge on the sugar ring and further facilitates the depurination relative to the protonation at N1. The changes in the charges calculated on the ribose and nucleobase are in good relationship with the C1'-C2', C1'-O4', and N-glycosidic bond lengths along the cleavage. The change in energy barrier ΔE of glycosidic bond cleavage from the gas-phase to solution media strongly depends on the charge of the species.     

Generation of thiyl radicals by the photolysis of 5-iodo-4-thiouridine

The photochemistry of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-5-iodo-4-thiouridine (3) in deoxygenated 1:1 CH(3)CN-H(2)O pH 5.8 (phosphate buffer) solution has been studied by means of steady-state and nanosecond laser flash photolysis methods. Under steady-state irradiation (lambda > or = 334 nm), the stable photoproducts were iodide ion, 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-4-thiouridine (4), and two disulfides. The disulfides were the symmetrical bis-(2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-5-iodo-4-thiouridine) (5) and unsymmetrical 6, which contains both 4-thiouridine and 5-iodo-4-thiouridine residues. The formation of the dehalogenated photoproduct suggests that C(5)-I bond cleavage is a primary photochemical step. Attempts to scavenge the resulting C(5)-centered radical by suitable addends, bis-(N-alpha-acetyl)cystine-bis-N-ethylamide or benzene, were unsuccessful. Analysis of the photoproducts formed under these conditions showed that the S-atom is the reactive center. The photoproduct 4, obtained by irradiation of 3 in CD(3)CN-H(2)O, followed by reversed-phase HPLC isolation using nonlabeled eluents, did not contain deuterium. An analogous experiment performed in CH(3)CN-D(2)O gave deuterated product 4-d with 88% of the deuterium incorporated at C(5). Transient absorption observed upon laser excitation (lambda= 308 nm) of 3 was assigned to the 4-uridinylthiyl radical on the basis of the similarity of this spectrum with that obtained upon laser photolysis of the disulfide: bis-(2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-4-thiouridine) 14. On the basis of the results of steady-state and laser photolysis studies, a mechanism of the photochemical reaction of 3 is proposed. The key mechanistic step is a transformation of the C(5)-centered radical formed initially by C(5)-I bond cleavage into a long-lived S-centered radical via a 1,3-hydrogen shift. Theoretical calculations confirmed that the long-lived S-centered radical is the most stable radical derived from the 4-thiouracil residue.     

Crystal and molecular structures of carbon-bridged pyrimidine cyclonucleosides. Substrate analogs of ribonuclease A

The crystal and molecular structures of carbon-bridged 6,5'-cyclo-5'-deoxy-4-thiouridine (6,5'-Cs4U), 6,5'-cyclo-5'-deoxy-2',3'-O-isopropylideneuridine (6,5'-CiU) and 6,6'-cyclo-5',6'-dideoxy-allofuranosyluracil (6,6'-CU) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The molecular conformations of 6,5'-Cs4U and 6,5'-CiU are very similar; the conformation about the glycosidic bond is anti (low region), the torsion angle O(4')-C(1')-N(1)-C(2) being -150.0 degrees for 6,5'-Cs4U and -145.5 degrees for 6,5'-CiU, and the sugar puckering being both O(4')-exo. On the other hand, 6,6'-CU takes the glycosidic torsion angle of -116.9(4) degrees (middle anti region) and the sugar conformation of C(4')-endo. The cyclization causes little alteration in the geometry of the base moiety. 6,5'-Cs4U and 6,5'-CiU exhibit the similar base-base interactions between adjacent molecules, although their molecular packings are quite different; the 4-thiouracil or uracil moiety interacts with adjacent base moieties through hydrogen bonding and stacking interactions. In 6,6'-CU, cyclonucleosides were connected by hydrogen bondings between the hydroxyl and sugar ring oxygen atoms and between the hydroxyl groups and the base nitrogen and oxygen atoms. As the 2',3'-cyclic phosphates of these carbon-bridged cyclonucleosides are hydrolyzed by ribonuclease A, it is suggested that the conformers found in these cyclonucleosides are recognized by the enzyme.     

MONOFUNCTIONAL 4',5'-PHOTOCYCLOADDUCT BETWEEN 4,5'-DIMETHYLANGELICIN AND THYMINE

Abstract A new fluorescent compound has been isolated from the products of hydrolysis of DNA irradiated in the presence of 4,5'-dimethylangelicin, a monofunctional photosensitizing furocoumarin. The marked similarity of the UV absorption and fluorescence spectra of this photoproduct to those of 4',5'-dihydro-4,5'-dimethylangelicin, as well as its behaviour on photodissociation (254 nm) yielding thymine and 4,5'-dimethylangelicin in equimolecular amounts, are consistent with a cycloadduct between one molecule of 4,5'-dimethylangelicin and one of thymine, and the C₄-cycloaddition occurs through 4',5'–double bond of the furocoumarin and the 5,6-double bond of the pyrimidine.     

FLUORESCENCE QUANTUM YIELD DETERMINATION OF PYRIMIDINE (6-4) PYRIMIDONE PHOTOADDUCTS

Abstract An extensive study of the fluorescence characteristics of pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoadducts, a major class of far-UV-induced DNA lesions, was carried out on dinucleoside monophosphate (6-4) photoadducts, including thymidylyl-(3'→ 5')-thymidine (TpT), 2'-deoxycytidylyl-(3'-5')-thymidine, thymidylyl-(3'→ 5')-2'-deoxy-cytidine, 2'-deoxyuridylyl-(3'→ 5')-thymidine, 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidylyl-(3'-5')-thymidine (6-4) photoadducts and the corresponding base (6-4) photoadducts, 6-4'-(5'-methylpyrimidin-2'-one) thymine (TT), 5-hydroxy-6-4'-(5'-methylpyrimidin-2'-one)-5,6-dihydrothymine (CT), 5-amino-6-4'-(pyrimidin-2'-one)-5,6-dihydrothymine (UC) obtained by mild acidic hydrolysis of the former derivatives. The fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_F) of these compounds was found to depend on one hand, on the nature of the two bases involved and the base substituent and, on the other hand, on the presence of the phosphate group. The hydrolysis of the phosphodiester bond was shown to enhance Φ_F, the larger effect being observed in the case of the thymine-thymine photoadducts with a seven-fold increase of the Φ_F value in the case of TT as compared to TpT (0.21 and 0.03, respectively). These results are discussed in terms of structural considerations.     

The Dewar valence isomer of the (6-4) photoadduct of thymidylyl-(3'-5')-thymidine monophosphate: formation, alkaline lability and conformational properties.

The formation of the Dewar valence isomer of the pyrimidine(6-4)pyrimidone photoadduct of thymidylyl-(3'-5')-thymidine monophosphate (TpT) was investigated under different irradiation conditions. This photoproduct was generated on exposure of TpT to far-UV radiation. However, no detectable amount of the Dewar isomer or its precursor (pyrimidine(6-4)pyrimidone photoadduct) was observed following acetone photosensitization of TpT. The Dewar valence isomer was much more unstable than the pyrimidine(6-4)pyrimidone photoproduct when treated with hot piperidine. A detailed conformational analysis of the TpT Dewar isomer photoproduct is reported as inferred from extensive one- and two-dimensional 300 and 620 MHz proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) measurements and molecular mechanics calculations.     

PHOTOLYSIS OF PHOSPHODIESTER BONDS IN PLASMID DNA BY HIGH INTENSITY UV LASER IRRADIATION

Abstract— The cleavage of phosphodiester bonds in DNA exposed to high intensity UV laser pulses in aerated aqueous solution has been investigated using a krypton fluoride excimer laser (248 nm) and bacterial plasmid DNA. The dependence of strand breakage on fluence and intensity has been studied in detail and shows that the process is non-linear with respect to intensity. The relationship between the quantum yield for strand breakage and intensity shows that the strand breakage reaction involves two-photon excitation of DNA bases. The quantum yield rises with intensity from a lower value of 7 times 10^-5 until a maximum value of 4.5 times 10^-4 is attained at intensities of 10¹¹ W m^-2 and above. This value is approximately fifty-fold higher than the quantum yield for strand breakage induced by exposure to low density UV irradiation (254 nm, 12 W m^-2). DNA sequencing experiments have shown that strand breakage occurs by the specific cleavage of the phosphodiester bond which lies immediately 3' to guanine residues in the DNA, leaving some alkali-labile remnant attached to the terminal phosphate. A mechanism for DNA strand breakage which involves the generation of guanine radical cations is proposed.     

Near 0 eV electrons attach to nucleotides

To elucidate the mechanism of the nascent stage of DNA strand breakage by low-energy electrons, theoretical investigations of electron attachment to nucleotides have been performed by the reliably calibrated B3LYP/DZP++ approach (Chem. Rev. 2002, 102, 231). The 2'-deoxycytidine-3'-monophosphate (3'-dCMPH) and its phosphate-deprotonated anion (3'-dCMP(-)) have been selected herein as models. This investigation reveals that 3'-dCMPH is able to capture near 0 eV electrons to form a radical anion which has a lower energy than the corresponding neutral species in both the gas phase and aqueous solution. The excess electron density is primarily located on the base of the nucleotide radical anion. The electron detachment energy of this pyrimidine-based radical anion is high enough that subsequent phosphate-sugar C-O sigma bond breaking or glycosidic bond cleavage is feasible. Although the phosphate-centered radical anion of 3'-dCMPH is not stable in the gas phase, it may be stable in aqueous solution. However, an incident electron with kinetic energy less than 4 eV might not be able to effectively produce the phosphate-centered radical anion either in solution or in the gas phase. This research also suggests that the electron affinity of the nucleotides is independent of the counterion in aqueous solution.     

Low-energy electron attachment to 5'-thymidine monophosphate: modeling single strand breaks through dissociative electron attachment

Mechanisms of low-energy electron (LEE) attachment and subsequent single-strand break (SSB) formation are investigated by density functional theory treatment of a simple model for DNA, i.e., the nucleotide, 5'-thymidine monophosphate (5'-dTMPH). In the present study, the C5'-O5' bond dissociation due to LEE attachment has been followed along the adiabatic as well as on the vertical (electron attached to the optimized geometry of the neutral molecule) anionic surfaces using B3LYP functional and 6-31G* and 6-31++G** basis sets. Surprisingly, it is found that the PES of C5'-O5' bond dissociation in the anion radicals have approximately the same barrier for both adiabatic and vertical pathways. These results provide support for the hypothesis that transiently bound electrons (shape resonances) to the virtual molecular orbitals of the neutral molecule likely play a key role in the cleavage of the sugar-phosphate C5'-O5' bond in DNA resulting in the direct formation of single strand breaks without significant molecular relaxation. To take into account the solvation effects, we considered the neutral and anion radical of 5'-dTMP surrounded by 5 or 11 water molecules with Na+ as a counterion. These structures were optimized using the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory. We find the barrier height for adiabatic C5'-O5' bond dissociation of 5'-dTMP anion radical in aqueous environment is so substantially higher than in the gas phase that the adiabatic route will not contribute to DNA strand cleavage in aqueous systems. This result is in agreement with experiment.     

Gamma-radiolysis DNA products: synthesis of 6-(alpha-thyminyl)-5,6-dihydro-4-thiothymine derivatives

Far-UV photolysis of 4-thiothymidylyl(3'-5')thymidine led to the formation of three stable derivatives: one resulting from a combination between a 3'-end methylene radical and a 5'-end C(4) radical [4-(alpha-thyminyl) derivative] and two formed after a combination between a 3'-end methylene radical and a 5'-end C(6) radical [6-(alpha-thyminyl) derivative]. In the latter series, two stereochemical pathways took place during the reaction between the methylene and C(6) radicals. The major pathway occurred when the 5'-base glycosidic bond had an anti conformation leading to an S configuration of the C(6) Tp-end. The minor pathway, which had never been reported before in this series, involved a 5'-base in a syn conformation leading consequently to the R configuration at the C(6) Tp-end. The 5,6-dihydrothymine moiety of these two adducts presented a 5,6-trans diaxial substitution that resulted from the epimerization, at the 5,6-dihydropyrimidine 5-position, of a less stable cis-disubstituted intermediate.     

THE U.V. PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF CYTIDYLIC ACID

Abstract The ultraviolet (u.v.) irradiation of the 3' isomer of cytidylic acid (Cp) produces the hydrate (Cp*) with water added across the 5–6 double bond. The yield of this photo-product has been measured by, (a) separating the photoproduct by electrophoresis and (b) by observing the loss in absorbance. When corrections are made for reversal of the hydrate during the experiment, both methods gave the same result. Cross sections and quantum yields for the production of the hydrate were measured over the wavelength range 220 to 290 nm and over a pH range from 1 to 10. The quantum yield is markedly dependent on pH being higher by a factor of 6 to 10 for the neutral form. We have also demonstrated the existence of a very short lived photoproduct (half life 8–9 min) in both Cp3' and Cp5': The nature of this short lived product is not known.