title: Theoretical study of the hydroxyl radical addition to uracil and photochemistry of the formed U6OH• adduct.
abstract: Hydroxyl radical ((•)OH) is produced in biological systems by external or endogenous agents. It can damage DNA/RNA by attacking pyrimidine nucleobases through the addition to the C5═C6 double bond. The adduct resulting from the attachment at the C5 position prevails in the experimental measurements, although the reasons for this preference remain unclear. The first aim of this work is therefore to shed light on the comprehension of this important process. Thus, the thermal (•)OH addition to the C5═C6 double bond of uracil has been studied theoretically by using DFT, MP2, and the multiconfigurational CASPT2//CASSCF methodologies. The in-vacuo results obtained with the latter protocol plus the analysis of solvent effects support the experimental observation. A significant lower barrier height is predicted for the C5 pathway with respect to that of the C6 route. In contrast to the C5 adduct, the C6 adduct is able to absorb visible light. Hence, the second aim of the work is to study the photochemistry of this species using the CASPT2//CASSCF methodology within the framework of the photochemical reaction path approach (PRPA). The nonradiative decay to the ground state of this compound has been characterized. A photoreactive character is predicted for the C6 adduct in the excited states according to the presence of excited-state minima along the main decay channel. Finally, a new mechanism of photodissociation has been explored, which implies the photoinduced regeneration of the canonical nucleobase by irradiating with visible light, being therefore relevant in RNA protection against damage by reactive oxygen species.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universitat de València , P.B. Box 22085, 46071 València, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Francés-Monerris
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merchán
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roca-Sanjuán
mesh_terms: D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000737:chemistry*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010777:Photochemistry; D011789:Quantum Theory; D014498:Uracil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D018736:DNA Adducts; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D014498:Uracil