Purine 5',8-cyclonucleoside lesions: chemistry and biology

5',8-Cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine and 5',8-cyclo-2'-deoxyguanosine in their 5'R and 5'S diastereomeric forms are tandem-type lesions observed among the DNA modifications and identified in mammalian cellular DNA in vivo. These lesions result from the chemistry of the C5' radicals generated by the attack of HO˙ radicals to 2-deoxyribose units. Quantitative determination of these lesions in biological samples as biomarkers of free radical damage is a challenge. Results reported for irradiated samples of calf thymus DNA have been critically reviewed, underlining the need of further research for the potential involvement of these lesions in human health (76 references).