Radiation-Induced Hydrogen Transfer in Nucleic Acids and Proteins in the Solid State

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange in gamma-irradiated polycrystalline DL-alanine: a spin-trapping and e.s.r. study

The hydrogen-deuterium exchange reactions in gamma-irradiated DL-alanine in the solid state were investigated by spin-trapping and electron spin resonance (e.s.r) using selectively deuterated DL-alanine. Subsequent to gamma-radiolysis at 30 degrees C, polycrystalline DL-alanine was dissolved in aqueous solutions of 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane and the extent of H-D exchange of the deamination radicals was followed by e.s.r. After formation of the deamination radicals, four exchange reactions were found to occur between the radicals and the surrounding undamaged molecules. The first reaction, which occurs between the hydrogens of the C-2 carbon of the radicals and those of the methyl groups of the neighbouring molecules, can be followed at room temperature. The three other reactions could be conveniently monitored in gamma-irradiated polycrystalline alanine at 110 degrees C. The first of the other three reactions takes place between the methyl hydrogens of the radicals and the C-2 hydrogens of nearby molecules, while the remaining processes involve exchange between the hydrogen atoms of the amino group and those on the C-2 and C-3 carbon atoms of the deamination radical.

E.s.r. of spin-trapped radicals in aqueous solutions of deuterated amino acids and alcohols

Selectively deuterated compounds can be utilized in spin-trapping to obtain conclusive evidence for the structures of the trapped radicals. Radicals formed from DL-alanine-2-d1, DL-alanine-3, 3, 3-d3, DL-alanine-d4, glycine-d5, isopropyl-2-d1 alcohol, isopropyl-d7 alcohol and t-butyl-d9 alcohol were studied. The hydrogen abstraction, deamination and decarboxylation radicals generated from deuterated alanines were investigated by spin-trapping using t-nitrosobutane. Since nitroxides of the type XYZC-CH2-N(O)-tBu which contain an asymmetric centre next to the CH2 group exhibit unequal beta-proton splittings and temperature-dependent line width alternations, the effects of temperature on the e.s.r. spectra were studied. By these methods the structures of the trapped radicals were verified and the hyperfine coupling constants could be assigned without ambiguity. In gamma-irradiated polycrystalline amino acids, the observed deuterium exchange can be conveniently surveyed by dissolution in aqueous solutions containing t-nitrosobutane.