CD studies of conformational changes of DNA upon photosensitized UV-irradiation at 313 nm.

The role of thymine dimerization for previously reported U.V. induced conformational changes has been proved using acetophenone as sensitizer for the specific thymine dimerization upon irradiation at 313 nm. CD results demonstrate that formation of pyrimidine dimers cause typical conformational changes of the DNA B helix as observed on irradiation at 254 nm. Thus the primary role of adenine photoproducts may be excluded.