Electron attachment to uracil: effective destruction at subexcitation energies.
We demonstrate that electrons at energies below the threshold for electronic excitation (<3 eV) effectively decompose gas phase uracil generating a mobile hydrogen radical and the corresponding closed shell uracil fragment anion (U-H)(-). The reaction is energetically driven by the large electron affinity of the (U-H) radical. This observation has significant consequences for the molecular picture of radiation damage, i.e., genotoxic effects or damage of living cells due to the secondary component of high energy radiation.
Hanel
G
G
Institut für Ionenphysik der Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Gstir
B
B
Denifl
S
S
Scheier
P
P
Probst
M
M
Farizon
B
B
Farizon
M
M
Illenberger
E
E
Märk
T D
TD
D004249:DNA Damage; D004583:Electrons; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D014498:Uracil / Q000737:chemistry*
D014498:Uracil; D012313:RNA