title: The influence of packing on free radical yields in crystalline nucleic acids: the pyrimidine bases.
abstract: The total free radical yield has been measured for crystals of five pyrimidine derivatives: thymine (T), 1-methylthymine (1MeT), 1-methyluracil (1MeU), 1-methylcytosine (1MeC) and cytosine monohydrate (C:HOH). Q-band EPR measurements were made on samples X-irradiated between 4 and 12 K. The G values in units of 10(-7) mol/J are 1MeC < 0.01, T < 0.04, 1MeU = 0.15, 1MeT = 0.25, and C:HOH = 0.8. The types of free radicals formed in these crystals are known through previous EPR investigations. A model is presented that attempts to identify the salient variables behind the large range in G values and, simultaneously, explain the variation in radical types. It is concluded that packing is a critical variable. Hydrogen-bonding networks promote the trapping of radicals through reversible proton transfer. In the absence of such a network less probable radical types are observed, such as radicals formed by irreversible protonation/deprotonation, higher-order reactions and homolytic bond cleavage. Crystals with low G values trap radicals formed predominantly by irreversible protonation/deprotonation at carbon positions and by excitation-spawned homolytic bond cleavage. In contrast, crystals with high G values trap radicals formed predominantly by reversible protonation/deprotonation at heteroatom positions. This model is extended to polynucleotides irradiated at low temperatures, where G values are typically 2-6. The high trapping efficiency seen in polynucleotides reflects highly efficient proton transfer. Consistent with this is the predominance of radicals formed by reversible protonation/deprotonation compared to those formed by irreversible protonation/deprotonation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, University of Rochester, New York 14642.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bernhard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mroczka
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000528:radiation effects; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000032:analysis; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013941:Thymine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000528:radiation effects; D014498:Uracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D011743:Pyrimidines; C031532:1-methylcytosine; C030630:1-methylthymine; D014498:Uracil; C002596:1-methyluracil; D003596:Cytosine; D013941:Thymine