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Review
. 2014 Mar;87(1035):20130715.
doi: 10.1259/bjr.20130715.

Radiation-mediated formation of complex damage to DNA: a chemical aspect overview

J-L Ravanat  1 , J Breton, T Douki, D Gasparutto, A Grand, W Rachidi, S Sauvaigo
Affiliations
Review

Radiation-mediated formation of complex damage to DNA: a chemical aspect overview

J-L Ravanat et al. Br J Radiol. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

During the last three decades, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken to determine the nature, the mechanism of formation and the biological consequences of radiation-induced DNA lesions. Most of the information was obtained via the development of chemical approaches, including theoretical, analytical and organic synthesis methods. Since it is not possible to present all the results obtained in this review article, we will focus on recent data dealing with the formation of complex DNA lesions produced by a single oxidation event, as these lesions may play a significant role in cellular responses to ionizing radiation and also to other sources of oxidative stress. Through the description of specific results, the contribution of different chemical disciplines in the assessment of the structure, the identification of the mechanism of formation and the biological impacts in terms of repair and mutagenicity of these complex radiation-induced DNA lesions will be highlighted.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The mechanism of formation of dCyd341 arising from the C4′-radical 1 through reaction of 2′-deoxycytidine (dCyd) with transiently produced keto-aldehyde 2.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Mechanisms of formation of tandem DNA lesions involving, in the absence of oxygen, formation of intrastrand cross-links 7 or, in the presence of oxygen, formation of two adjacent modified DNA bases 5 through decomposition of endoperoxide 4 generated by the addition of a pyrimidine peroxyl radical 3 onto C8 of guanine.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The formation of complex lesions 9 and 10 generated through the transient formation of guanine radical cation 8 produced by a one-electron oxidation reaction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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