Degradation of Nucleic Acid Constituents by Free Radical Systems

Abstract

Degradation of three nucleic acid bases, uracil, thymine and cytosine, by free radical systems containing ascorbic acid and/or hydrogen peroxide was found to occur when these two reagents were used in combination. Any significant differences in the mode of degradation were not observed among these pyrimidine bases. Ferrous ion added in this system intensified the degree of degradation.
Phosphate bond cleavage of mononucleotides by ascorbic acid-hydrogen peroxide was also demonstrated to occur in a lesser degree than other phosphate esters.
Special device of spectrometric determination of pyrimidine bases in the reaction system was worked out.