Electron transfer in di(deoxy)nucleoside phosphates in aqueous solution: rapid migration of oxidative damage (via adenine) to guanine

In aqueous solution, the one-electron loss centers created statistically by the oxidant SO sub(4) super(-) or by photoionization in di(2'-deoxy)nucleoside phosphates (DNPs) containing the base guanine (G) become localized at G, as concluded from pulse radiolysis and 193-nm laser photolysis experiments. From the latter it is evident that, in the case of adenylyl(3' arrow right 5')guanosine (ApG), the charge-transfer process is complete in less than or equal to 50 ns. With DNPs containing a pyrimidine and the purine base adenine, the oxidative damage is collected by the adenine moiety (k greater than or equal to 2 x 10 super(5) s super(-1)).