The rate constant for strand breakage in poly(U) after reaction with hydrogen atoms in deoxygenated aqueous solution has been determined to be k = 1.5 s-1 at pH = 4-5 and 24 °C. Dithiothreitol has been found to prevent strand break formation by reacting with H-adduct radicals of poly(U) with a rate constant of 5 × 106 M-1 s-1. It is concluded that the rate-determining step in H atom-induced strand breakage in poly(U) at pH ≦ 6 is the decay of uracil moiety H-adduct radicals via H-abstraction from the ribose moiety.
Received: 1984-12-3
Published Online: 2014-6-2
Published in Print: 1985-4-1
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