The Influence of Trenimon upon Deoxyribonucleic Acid in vitro

Trenimon (2,3,5‐aziridine‐1,4‐benzoquinone) reacts with DNA by alkylation of the purine moiety, by formation of apurinic sites, and by induction of strand breaks. The presence of cross links was noted in the later stages of treatment, as was a diminished susceptibility to DNAase action. The agent causes progressive loss of priming ability in the DNA‐dependent RNA polymerase system. The RNA synthesized was of shorter chain length and sedimented in the sucrose gradient for the most part with a coefficient smaller than 6 S.