Changes in absorption spectra of nucleic acids and their derivatives following exposure to ozone and ultraviolet radiations

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1954 · Arch. Biochem. Biophys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(54)90468-3· OSTI ID:5017651

Christensen, E; Giese, A C

The effect of ozone and ultraviolet radiations upon the UV absorption spectra of solutions of nucleic acids, and the nucleotides, nucleosides, purine, and pyrimidines of nucleic acids have been studied, and in a few instances the effects of both agents in various combinations were tested. Without exception, ozonation of the above compounds quickly reduces the absorption maximum at or near 2600 A and usually induces an increase in absorption at wavelengths shorter than 2400 A, but has much less effect on their absorption at wavelengths longer than 2800 A. The effects of ozone on nucleic acid are probably compounded of the effects of ozone on the constituent purines and pyrimidines, each of which appears to be individually affected. UV has little effect on the absorption spectra of all of the above compounds. UV causes a decrease in absorption by nucleic acids at the 2600 A peak and an increase at wavelengths shorter than 2400 A and longer than 2800 A. Exposure of adenine to UV causes an increased absorption over the entire range, but neither adenosine nor adenylic acid was markedly affected by comparable doses. UV has little effect on absorption by guanosine or guanylic acid. Of the pyrimidines tested, uracil was most sensitive to UV, and its sensitivity was greater in the combined form of uridine or uridylic acid. The main effect of UV on the absorption spectrum of nucleic acid may therefore be attributable to the change it induces in uracil.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA
• OSTI ID: 5017651
• Journal Information: Arch. Biochem. Biophys.; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Biochem. Biophys.; (United States) Vol. 51; ISSN ABBIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ADENINES
ADENOSINE
ADENYLIC ACID
AIR POLLUTION
AMINES
ANTIMETABOLITES
AROMATICS
AZAARENES
AZINES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GUANOSINE
GUANYLIC ACID
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
NUCLEIC ACIDS
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OZONE
OZONIZATION
POLLUTION
PURINES
PYRIMIDINES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RIBOSIDES
SPECTRA
SYNERGISM
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
URACILS
WAVELENGTHS