Molecular mechanisms for electron-induced damage to biocomponents: cross sections and temporary anionic states for monosaccharides

The electron-molecule collision process for β-D-ribose and β-D-deoxyribose in gas-phase is here characterized in the range 0-20 eV. The description of the ensuing dissociative electron attachment in terms of the Transient Negative Ions (TNIs) is complemented by new calculations on the integral cross sections which show significative differences between ribose and deoxyribose in their furanosic, 5-memberring conformers. Such finding could suggest a similar response of RNA versus DNA to secondary electrons in the condensed phase with interesting implications for the radiation damage research field.