The isolation and characterisation of a new type of dimeric adenine photoproduct in UV-irradiated deoxyadenylates.

A new type of dimeric adenine photoproduct has been isolated from d(ApA) irradiated at 254 nm in neutral aqueous solution. It is formed in comparable amounts to another, quite distinct, adenine photoproduct first described by Pörschke (J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1973), 95, 8440-8446). Results from high resolution mass spectrometry and 1H NMR indicate that the new photoproduct comprises a mixture of two stereoisomers whose formation involves covalent coupling of the adenine bases in d(ApA) and concomitant incorporation of the elements of one molecule of water. The photoproduct is degraded specifically by acid to 4,6-diamino-5-guanidinopyrimidine (DGPY) whose identity has been confirmed by independent chemical synthesis. Formation of the new photoproduct in UV-irradiated d(pA)2 and poly(dA), but not poly(rA), has been demonstrated by assaying their acid hydrolysates for the presence of DGPY. The properties of the photoproduct are consistent with it being generated by the hydrolytic fission of an azetidine photoadduct in which the N(7) and C(8) atoms of the 5''-adenine in d(ApA) are linked respectively to the C(6) and C(5) positions of the 3''-adenine.     

High-resolution crystal structure of the intramolecular d(TpA) thymine-adenine photoadduct and its mechanistic implications

A high-resolution crystal structure is reported for d(TpA)*, the intramolecular thymine–adenine photoadduct that is produced by direct ultraviolet excitation of the dinucleoside monophosphate d(TpA). It confirms the presence of a central 1,3-diazacyclooctatriene ring linking the remnants of the T and A bases, as previously deduced from heteronuclear NMR measurements by Zhao et al. (The structure of d(TpA)*, the major photoproduct of thymidylyl-(3′-5′)-deoxyadenosine. Nucleic Acids Res., 1996, 24, 1554–1560). Within the crystal, the d(TpA)* molecules exist as zwitterions with a protonated amidine fragment of the eight-membered ring neutralizing the charge of the internucleotide phosphate monoanion. The absolute configuration at the original thymine C5 and C6 atoms is determined as 5S,6R. This is consistent with d(TpA)* arising by valence isomerization of a precursor cyclobutane photoproduct with cis–syn stereochemistry that is generated by [2 + 2] photoaddition of the thymine 5,6-double bond across the C6 and C5 positions of adenine. This mode of photoaddition should be favoured by the stacked conformation of adjacent T and A bases in B-form DNA. It is probable that the primary photoreaction is mechanistically analogous to pyrimidine dimerization despite having a much lower quantum yield.     

The photochemistry of d(T-A) in aqueous solution and in ice.

When d(T-A) is irradiated at 254 nm in aqueous solution an internal photoadduct is formed between its constituent adenine and thymine bases. The resultant photoproduct, designated TA*, arises from a singlet excited state precursor; a similar photoreaction is not observed with d(C-A) or d(T-G). In contradistinction, irradiation of d(T-A) in frozen aqueous solution yields a dimeric photoproduct in which two d(T-A) molecules are coupled together by a (6-4) photoadduct linkage between their respective thymine bases. Both photoproducts have been extensively characterised by a combination of electron impact and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, UV, CD, 1H NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy. Acid treatment of TA* gives 6-methylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-one whose identity was established by an independent chemical synthesis involving photorearrangement of 6-methyl-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine N(4)-oxide. A tentative mechanism is presented to account for the acid degradation of TA*. The structure of the dimeric ice photoproduct follows from its cleavage, by snake venom phosphodiesterase, to 5'-dAMP and the (6-4) bimolecular photoadduct of thymidine; on acid hydrolysis it gives adenine and 6-(5'-methyl-2'-oxopyrimidin-4'-yl) thymine.     

The structure of d(TpA), the major photoproduct of thymidylyl-(3'5')-deoxyadenosine.

Irradiation of the dinucleotide TpdA and TA-containing oligonucleotides and DNA produces the TA* photoproduct which was proposed to be the [2+2] cyclo-addition adduct between the C5-C6 double bonds of the T and the A [Bose,S.N., Kumar,S., Davies,R.J.H., Sethi,S.K. and McCloskey,J.A. (1984) Nucleic Acids Res. 12, 7929-7947]. The proposed structure was based on a variety of spectroscopic and chemical degradation studies, and the assignment of a trans-syn-I stereochemistry was based on an extensive 1H-NMR and molecular modeling study of the dinucleotide adduct [Koning,T.M.G., Davies,R.J.H. and Kaptein,R. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 277-284]. However, a number of properties of TA* are not in accord with the originally proposed structure, and prompted a re-evaluation of the structure. To assign the 13C spectrum and establish the bond connectivities of the TA* photoproduct of TpdA [d(TpA)*], 1H-13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) spectra were obtained. The 13C shifts and connectivities were found to be inconsistent with the originally proposed cyclobutane ring fusion between the thymine and adenine, but could be explained by a subsequent ring-expansion reaction to give an eight-membered ring valence isomer. The new structure for the d(TpA)* resolves the inconsistencies with the originally proposed structure, and could have a stereochemistry that arises from the anti, anti glycosyl conformation found in B form DNA.     

Conformational properties of adenylyl-3' leads to 5'-adenosine in aqueous solution.

A detailed 220-MHz NMR study has been made of the conformational properties for the homodinucleotide adenylyl-3' leads to 5'-adenosine, ApA, in D2O. Unambiguous signal assignments of all proton signals were made with the aid of selectively deuterated nucleotidyl units, ApA, ApA, and D-8ApA, and complete, accurate sets of NMR parameters were derived by simulation-iteration methods. Sets of limiting chemical shifts and coupling values were also obtained for ApA and constituent monomers 3'-AMP and 5'-AMP at infinite dilution and at identical ionization states for assessment of dimerization effects. Conformational properties were evaluated quantitatively for most of the conformational bonds of ApA and these are consistent with two compact folded dynamically averaged structures, a base-stacked right helical structure, I, characterized as anti, C3'-endo, g-, w,w' (320,330 degrees), g'g', gg, C3'-endo, anti, and a more loosely base-stacked loop structure, II, with anti, C3'-endo, g-, w,w' (80 degrees, 50 degrees), g'g', gg, C3'-endo, anti orientations. Dimerization produces a number of nucleotidyl conformational changes including a shift in ribose equilibrium C2'-endo (S) in equilibrium C3'-endo (N) in favor of C3'-endo in both Ap- and -pA (60:40 vs. 35:65 in monomers), a change in glycosidic torsion angle chiCN toward 0 degrees, and a greater locking-in of rotamers along bonds involved in the phosphodiester backbone. Moreover, there is clear evidence that the transitions from S leads to N forms and chiCN leads to 0 degrees are directly related to base stacking in ApA. Finally, ApA exists in solution as an equilibrium between I, II and an unstacked form(s) with as yet undetermined conformational features. Since C4'-C5', C5'-O5', and C3'-O3' bonds possess exceptional conformational stabilities, it is proposed that destacking occurs primarily by rotation about P-O5' and/or O3'-P. Predominant factors influencing the overall ApA conformation are thus base-base interaction and flexibility about P-O5' and O3'-P, with change of ribose conformation occurring in consequence of an alteration of chiCN, the latter in turn being governed by the need for maximum eta overlap of stacked adenine rings.     

A proton magnetic resonance study of the interaction of adenylyl (3' is greater than 5') adenosine with polyuridylic acid

The interaction of adenylyl (3′ → 5′) adenosine (ApA) with polyuridylic acid in D₂O solution at neutral pD has been studied by high resolution proton magnetic, resonance spectroscopy. At temperatures above ～32°C, no evidence was obtained for the interaction of ApA with poly U. Below this temperature, a rigid triple-stranded complex involving a stoichiometry of 1 adenine to 2 uracil bases is formed, presumably via specific adenine–uracil base-pairing and cooperative base stacking of the adenine bases in a manner similar to that previously reported for the adenosine–poly U complex.     

Ultraviolet-induced 8,8-adenine dehydrodimers in oligo- and polynucleotides.

Characteristic fluorescence excitation and emission is induced by either acetone-sensitized 313 nm irradiation of mixtures of 8-bromoadenosine and adenosine or 254 nm irradiation of oligo- and polynucleotides containing adenine neighbors. The acetone-sensitized reaction involves cleavage of bromine from 8-bromoadenosine with activation of C-8, leading to formation of an 8,8-adenosine dehydrodimer. Comparable fluorescence properties arise in the unsensitized photoreaction of dApdA, pdApdA, ApA, poly(dA), poly(A), poly(dA.dT), and poly(dA.U). The previously unidentified adenine ultraviolet photoproduct described by Porschke has been isolated as several variants from solutions of pdApdA and poly(dA) irradiated at 254 nm. Based upon fluorescence spectra and mass spectra, these variants are shown to contain the 8,8-adenine dehydrodimer moiety.     

The solution structure of the intramolecular photoproduct of d(TpA) derived with the use of NMR and a combination of distance geometry and molecular dynamics.

One and two dimensional NMR techniques have been used together with molecular modelling to obtain the solution structure for the photoproduct d(TpA)*. The NMR data confirm that the cyclobutane linkage is formed between the bonds thymine C6-C5 and adenine C5-C6. The 2D NOE data are used as constraints in a distance geometry calculation. The structures obtained show a trans-syn cyclobutane linkage and the glycosidic angles are SYN and ANTI for thymidine and deoxyadenosine, respectively. The coupling constant data are used to check the backbone torsion angles of the obtained structures. Typical torsion angles are a gamma+ and beta t for the deoxyadenosine residue. A free molecular dynamics simulation of a trans-syn d(TpA) photoproduct confirmed all these structural characteristics.     

Identification and characterization of an intermediate in the alkali degradation of (6-4) photoproduct-containing DNA

The (6-4) photoproduct formed by ultraviolet light is known as an alkali-labile DNA lesion. Strand breaks occur at (6-4) photoproducts when UV-irradiated DNA is treated with hot alkali. We have analyzed the degradation reaction of this photoproduct under alkaline conditions using synthetic oligonucleotides. A tetramer, d(GT(6-4)TC), was prepared, and its degradation in 50 mm KOH at 60 degrees C was monitored by high performance liquid chromatography. A single peak with a UV absorption spectrum similar to that of the starting material was detected after the reaction, and this compound was regarded as an intermediate before the strand break. The formation of this intermediate was compared with intermediates from the degradation of other alkali-labile lesions such as the abasic site, thymine glycol, and 5,6-dihydrothymine. The results strongly suggested that the first step of the alkali degradation of the (6-4) photoproduct was the hydrolysis between the N3 and C4 positions of the 5'-pyrimidine component. Analyses by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry supported the chemical structure of this product. Assays of the complex formation with XPC.HR23B and the translesion synthesis by DNA polymerase eta revealed that the biochemical properties are indistinguishable between the intact and hydrolyzed photoproducts.     

Ricin A-chain inhibitors resembling the oxacarbenium ion transition state

Ricin toxin A-chain (RTA) is expressed by the castor bean plant and is among the most potent mammalian toxins. Upon activation in the cytosol, RTA depurinates a single adenine from position 4324 of rat 28S ribosomal RNA, causing inactivation of ribosomes by preventing the binding of elongation factors. Kinetic isotope effect studies have established that RTA operates via a D(N)*A(N) mechanism involving an oxacarbenium ion intermediate with bound adenine [Chen, X.-Y., Berti, P. J., and Schramm, V. L. (2000) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122, 1609-1617]. On the basis of this information, stem-loop RNA molecules were chemically synthesized, incorporating structural features of the oxacarbenium ion-like transition state. A 10-base RNA stem-loop incorporating (1S)-1-(9-deazaadenin-9-yl)-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-ribitol at the depurination site binds four times better (0.57 microM) than the 10-base RNA stem-loop with adenosine at the depurination site (2.2 microM). A 10-base RNA stem-loop with 1,2-dideoxyribitol [(2R,3S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran] at the depurination site binds with a Kd of 3.2 microM and tightens to 0.75 microM in the presence of 9-deazaadenine. A similar RNA stem-loop with 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-ribitol at the depurination site binds with a K(d) of 1.3 microM and improves to 0.65 micro;M with 9-deazaadenine added. When (3S,4R)-4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine was incorporated at the depurination site of a 14-base RNA stem-loop, the Kd was 0.48 microM. Addition of 9-deazaadenine tightens the binding to 0.10 microM whereas added adenine increases the affinity to 12 nM. The results of this study are consistent with the unusual dissociative D(N)*A(N) mechanism determined for RTA. Knowledge of this intermediate has led to the design and synthesis of the highest affinity inhibitor reported for the catalytic site of RTA.     

Photoproducts from DNA pyrimidine bases and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The major photoproduct formed between benzo[a]pyrene and thymine is identified as 1-(benzo[a]pyren-6-yl)-thymine by means of spectroscopic analysis and isotopic syntheses. Irradiation of 1-methylcytosine hydrochloride and anthracene gives two isolable photoproducts of which one is assigned the structure 5-(anthracen-9-yl)-1-methylcytosine.     

Preparation of adenosine nucleotide derivatives suitable for affinity chromatography

Methods of synthesizing a series of chemically-defined AMP, ADP, ATP, adenylyl imidodiphosphate and pyrophosphate derivatives suitable for affinity chromatography are extensively described. Each derivative has a single primary amino group at the end of a hexamethylene ;spacer' chain for attachment to CNBr-activated agarose. The synthesis of the derivative where the ;spacer' arm is attached directly to the 8 position of the adenine ring to produce 8-(6-aminohexyl)amino-AMP involves the direct bromination of AMP in the 8 position followed by displacement of the halogen by 1,6-diaminohexane. This monophosphate derivative can then be converted into the corresponding di- or triphosphate forms by direct phosphate condensation with carbonyl di-imidazole. A second series of adenosine phosphate derivatives with the phosphate moieties unsubstituted has been similarly prepared from N(6)-(6-aminohexyl)-AMP (Guilford et al., 1972). A third type of ligand has been synthesized by condensing the phosphoryl imidazolide of AMP with 6-aminohex-1-yl phosphate. This compound, P(1)-(6-aminohex-1-yl) P(2)-(5'-adenosyl) pyrophosphate, has an unsubstituted adenine ring. The synthesis of a fourth type of ligand, 6-aminohex-1-yl pyrophosphate, was done by heating 6-aminohexan-1-ol with crystalline pyrophosphoric acid under reduced pressure. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by chemical, electrophoretic and chromatographic methods and by u.v. spectrometry. The general applicability of the synthetic methods used is discussed in relation to the preparation of other affinity adsorbents. Examples are given where these derivatives have been successful in reversibly binding dehydrogenases, kinases and myosin and its proteolytic subfragments. The partial purification of rat liver glucokinase on an ADP derivative is shown.     

Neighboring group participation Part 17 Stereoselective synthesis of some steroidal 2-oxazolidones, as novel potential inhibitors of 17alpha-hydroxylase-C(17,20)-lyase

During the alkaline methanolysis of 3beta-acetoxy-21-chloropregn-5-ene-20beta-N-phenylurethane (4a), and its 4-monosubstituted (4b-e) and 3,5-disubstituted (4f) phenyl derivatives, cyclization occurs, in the course of which 17beta-[3-(N-phenyl)-2-oxazolidon-5-yl]androst-5-en-3beta-ol (5a) and its substituted phenyl derivatives (5b-f) are formed. The cyclization takes place with (N(-)-5) neighboring group participation. The reaction of 3beta-acetoxy-21-azidopregn-5-en-20beta-ol (3d) with triphenylphosphine gave 3beta-acetoxy-21-phosphiniminopregn-5-en-20beta-ol, which reacted in situ with carbon dioxide with the participation of the sterically favored 20beta-OH to give the unsubstituted steroidal cyclic carbamate (8). Oppenauer oxidation of the 3beta-hydroxy-exo-heterocyclic steroids (5a-f, 9) yielded the corresponding Delta(4)-3-ketosteroids (7a-f, 10). The inhibitory effects (IC(50)) of these compounds on rat testicular C(17,20)-lyase were investigated with an in vitro radioligand incubation technique. The N-unsubstituted 17beta-(2-oxazolidon-5-yl)-androst-4-en-3-one derivative (10) was found to be a potent inhibitor (IC(50)=3.0 microM).     

Oxidative DNA damage associated with combination of guanine and superoxide radicals and repair mechanisms via radical trapping

In living tissues under inflammatory conditions, superoxide radicals (O(2)*)) are generated and are known to cause oxidative DNA damage. However, the mechanisms of action are poorly understood. It is shown here that the combination of O(2)* with guanine neutral radicals, G(-H)* in single- or double-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides (rate constant of 4.7 +/- 1.0 x 10(8) m(-1) s(-1) in both cases), culminates in the formation of oxidatively modified guanine bases (major product, imidazolone; minor product, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine). The G(-H)* and O(2)* radicals were generated by intense 308 nm excimer laser pulses resulting in the one-electron oxidation and deprotonation of guanine in the 5'-d(CC[2AP]-TCGCTACC) strands and the trapping of the ejected electrons by molecular oxygen (Shafirovich, V., Dourandin, A., Huang, W., Luneva, N. P., and Geacintov, N. E. (2000) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2, 4399-4408). The addition of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, known to react rapidly with superoxide, dramatically enhances the life-times of guanine radicals from 4 to 7 ms to 0.2-0.6 s in the presence of 5 microm superoxide dismutase. Oxygen-18 isotope labeling experiments reveal two pathways of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine formation including either addition of O(2)* to the C-8 position of G(-H)* (in the presence of oxygen), or the hydration of G(-H)* (in the absence of oxygen). The formation of the guanine lesions via combination of guanine and superoxide radicals is greatly reduced in the presence of typical antioxidants such as trolox and catechol that rapidly regenerate guanine by the reductive "repair" of G(-H)* radicals. The mechanistic aspects of the radical reactions that either regenerate undamaged guanine in DNA or lead to oxidatively modified guanine bases are discussed.     

Molecular design of an acid–base cooperative catalyst for RNA cleavage based on a dizinc complex

The effects of donor groups of dizinc complexes, formed from a 2:1 mixture of Zn(II) and a dinucleating ligand, on adenylyl(3'-5')adenosine (ApA) cleavage have been studied. Two dinucleating ligands were used: one had two 2-pyridylmethyl and two 2-hydroxyethyl moieties on the 1,3-diamino-2-propanol linker moiety (2), and the other had two 2-pyridylmethyl and two carboxymethyl moieties on the 1,3-diamino-2-propanol linker moiety (3(2-)). The dizinc complex with2 [(Zn(2+))(2)-2] showed higher activities toward ApA cleavage than the dizinc complex using an analogous dinucleating ligand having four 2-pyridylmethyl donor moieties [(Zn(2+))(2)-1] at pH 5-8. The former showed a bell-shaped pH-rate constant profile, whereas the latter showed a sigmoidal pattern. The differences in the pH-rate constant profile are attributable to the various distributions of the monohydroxo-dizinc species, i.e. dideprotonated species, which are responsible for ApA cleavage. The monohydroxo species of (Zn(2+))(2)-2 has two acidic protons, which are not present in the corresponding monohydroxo species of (Zn(2+))(2)-1. The existence of both intracomplex acid (ROH or H(2)O) and base catalysts (RO(-) or OH(-)) in (Zn(2+))(2)-2 can explain its higher activity toward ApA cleavage than that of (Zn(2+))(2)-1. In contrast, (Zn(2+))(2)-3(2-) showed lower activity toward ApA cleavage at pH 7.0, which can be ascribed to the absence of the monohydroxo-dizinc species under these conditions.     

Search for an adenine photoproduct in DNA.

Poly(d[14C]A), p(dA)2, and [14C]adenosine-labeled DNA were irradiated at 254 nm with fluences up to 50 J/m2, and then following formic acid hydrolysis at 170 degrees C WERE SUBJECTED TO PAPER CHROMAtography using a butanol:water:acetic acid (80:30:12) solvent system. For poly(dA), up to 25% of the radioactivity appeared as fluorescent material located in the Rf 0.21-0.29 region. The hydrolysate of the purified photoproduct, p(dA)2, isolated from irradiated p(dA)2 by DEAE chromatography also had an Rf of 0.29 as well as an absorbance maximum at 310 nm. In all cases studied, however, the photoproduct yield in the Rf 0.29 region for native DNA was less than 2%. Denaturation of the DNA appeared to enhance the yield slightly, although no pronounced peak in this region of the chromatogram was discerned. Mechanistic studies indicate that the yield of the adenine photoproduct in poly(dA) is favored by base stacking, has a singlet excimer as a precursor, and is quenched by hydrogen bonding to a pyrimidine. It is concluded that the yield of the adenine photoproduct in both native and denatured DNA is considerably less than in poly (dA) and in all probability does not represent a biologically significant product.     

The photoreactivity of T-A sequences in oligodeoxyribonucleotides and DNA.

Photoaddition between adjacent adenine and thymine bases occurs, with a quantum yield of approximately 5 X 10(-4) mol einstein-1, when d(T-A), dT-A, d(pT-A), d(T-A-T), d(T-A-T-A) and poly(dA-dT) are irradiated, at 254 nm, in aqueous solution. The photoadduct thus formed is specifically degraded by acid to the fluorescent heterocyclic base 6-methylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-one (6-MIP) with retention of C(8) of adenine and the methyl group of thymine. This reaction, coupled with either spectrofluorimetric or radiochemical assay of 6-MIP isolated by high voltage paper electrophoresis, has been used to demonstrate formation of the adenine-thymine photoadduct on UV irradiation of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) and both native and denatured DNA from calf thymus and E. coli. Estimated quantum yields for this new type of photoreaction in DNA show that it is substantially quenched by base pairing. Possible biological implications of the photoreaction are discussed.     

Increased DNA binding and sequence discrimination of PNA oligomers containing 2,6-diaminopurine.

The synthesis of a diaminopurine PNA monomer, N-[N6-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-2,6-diaminopurine-9-yl] acetyl-N-(2-t-butyloxycarbonylaminoethyl)glycine, and the incorporation of this monomer into PNA oligomers are described. Substitution of adenine by diaminopurine in PNA oligomers increased the T m of duplexes formed with complementary DNA, RNA or PNA by 2.5-6.5 degrees C per diaminopurine. Furthermore, discrimination against mismatches facing the diaminopurine in the hybridizing oligomer is improved. Finally, a homopurine decamer PNA containing six diaminopurines is shown to form a (gel shift) stable strand displacement complex with a target in a 246 bp double-stranded DNA fragment.     

Structure of an oligodeoxynucleotide containing a butadiene oxide-derived N1 beta-hydroxyalkyl deoxyinosine adduct in the human N-ras codon 61 sequence

The solution structure of the N1-(1-hydroxy-3-buten-2(S)-yl)-2'-deoxyinosine adduct arising from the alkylation of adenine N1 by butadiene epoxide (BDO), followed by deamination to deoxyinosine, was determined, in the oligodeoxynucleotide d(CGGACXAGAAG).d(CTTCTCGTCCG). This oligodeoxynucleotide contained the BDO adduct at the second position of codon 61 of the human N-ras protooncogene, and was named the ras61 S-N1-BDO-(61,2) adduct. (1)H NMR revealed a weak C(5) H1' to X(6) H8 NOE, followed by an intense X(6) H8 to X(6) H1' NOE. Simultaneously, the X(6) H8 to X(6) H3' NOE was weak. The resonance arising from the T(17) imino proton was not observed. (1)H NOEs between the butadiene moiety and the DNA positioned the adduct in the major groove. Structural refinement based upon a total of 364 NOE-derived distance restraints yielded a structure in which the modified deoxyinosine was in the high syn conformation about the glycosyl bond, and T(17), the complementary nucleotide, was stacked into the helix, but not hydrogen bonded with the adducted inosine. The refined structure provided a plausible hypothesis as to why this N1 deoxyinosine adduct strongly coded for the incorporation of dCTP during trans lesion DNA replication, both in Escherichia coli [Rodriguez, D. A., Kowalczyk, A., Ward, J. B. J., Harris, C. M., Harris, T. M., and Lloyd, R. S. (2001) Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 38, 292-296], and in mammalian cells [Kanuri, M., Nechev, L. N., Tamura, P. J., Harris, C. M., Harris, T. M., and Lloyd, R. S. (2002) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 15, 1572-1580]. Rotation of the N1 deoxyinosine adduct into the high syn conformation may facilitate incorporation of dCTP via Hoogsteen-type templating with deoxyinosine, thus generating A-to-G mutations.     

New photoproducts from irradiation of NADH with near-UV light

Adenosine 5'-diphosphoribose (ADPR) and a second compound, which may be nicotinamide, are the newly discovered photoproducts resulting from irradiation of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (beta-NADH) in the wavelength range of 300-400 nm under oxygen-poor conditions. Both products emerge there even exclusively, whereas, at higher oxygen concentrations, the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is additionally formed, although still as a minor product. The development of ADPR and NAD+ is clearly oxygen-dependent, while, for the formation of the second photoproduct, small quantities of oxygen appear to be sufficient.