A dose-response study on opening of imidazole ring of adenine in DNA by ionizing radiation.

A dose-response relationship between gamma-irradiation and the cleavage of the imidazole ring of adenine in DNA to form formamidopyrimidine has been demonstrated. When the DNA aqueous solution was irradiated with 0.1 Gy under N2O, there is little evidence of imidazole ring cleavage. A significant increase in cleavage begins to be noticed above 1 Gy reaching a plateau at 1000 Gy. No formamidopyrimidine was formed when 2'-deoxyadenosine was irradiated with up to 1000 Gy. A dose of 100 Gy converts 18 per cent of adenine in DNA to formamidopyrimidine. In irradiated DNA aqueous solution 1000 Gy convert 25 per cent of adenine to formamidopyrimidine under N2O. Some of the adenine was converted to 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine but in amount that is 20 per cent of that converted to formamidopyrimidine under N2O. There was more adenine in DNA converted to formamidopyrimidine under N2O than under N2.