Structure of a hydroxyl radical induced cross-link of thymine and tyrosine.
DNA-protein cross-links are formed when living cells or isolated chromatin is exposed to ionizing radiation. Little is known about the actual cross-linked products of DNA and proteins. In this work, a novel hydroxyl radical induced cross-link of thymine and tyrosine has been isolated along with a tyrosine dimer by high-performance liquid chromatography of aqueous mixtures of tyrosine and thymine that had been exposed to hydroxyl radicals generated by ionizing radiation. The isolated compounds have been examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structure of the thymine-tyrosine cross-link has been identified as the product from the formation of a covalent bond between the methyl group of the thymine and carbon 3 of the tyrosine ring. In addition, the 3,3' tyrosine dimer was isolated and characterized. The mechanism of the formation of these compounds is discussed. This work presents the first complete chemical characterization of a hydroxyl radical induced DNA base-amino acid cross-link.
Margolis
S A
SA
Center for Analytical Chemistry, National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899.
Coxon
B
B
Gajewski
E
E
Dizdaroglu
M
M
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004249:DNA Damage; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D005609:Free Radicals; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006878:Hydroxides; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008954:Models, Biological; D013941:Thymine; D014443:Tyrosine
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005609:Free Radicals; D006878:Hydroxides; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D014443:Tyrosine; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D013941:Thymine