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Single-stranded DNA generated by high temperature accepts protons and builds up mutagenic and carcinogenic strong acids

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Abstract

Malignancies are caused by genetic or environmental factors. Esophageal carcinoma can be triggered by consumption of hot food and beverages. Here we propose that high temperature is one of the culprits and it leads to DNA denaturation. Subsequently the exposed hydrogen bonding acceptors in single stranded DNA attract protons which enhance the formation of mutagenic and carcinogenic strong acids such as HCl. Faster mutation of single-stranded DNA viruses than that of double-stranded DNA viruses lends support to this theory.

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Acknowledgements

Discussions with Weiguo Cao are appreciated. We thank Yan Shi for language editing.

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Science and Technology Transformation Program of Sun Yat-sen University of China (33000-18843234) and Guangzhou Science and Technology Program (201804010328) to QL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China

    Yuhan Lin & Qiuyun Liu

  2. Yunnan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China

    Xiaoxiao Zhang

  3. School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, 063210, Hebei, China

    Yuchuan Wang

  4. School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China

    Jiaming Zhang

Authors
  1. Yuhan Lin
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  2. Xiaoxiao Zhang
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  3. Yuchuan Wang
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  4. Jiaming Zhang
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  5. Qiuyun Liu
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Contributions

QL conceived and supervised the study, analyzed the data and wrote the first draft. YL conducted the literature search and analyzed the data, and co-wrote first draft. XZ, JZ and YW conducted the literature search and analyzed the data, and wrote and revised the second draft. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qiuyun Liu.

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Lin, Y., Zhang, X., Wang, Y. et al. Single-stranded DNA generated by high temperature accepts protons and builds up mutagenic and carcinogenic strong acids. Mol Biol Rep 48, 7633–7635 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06804-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06804-0

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