Alterations in DNA irradiated with ultraviolet radiation 1. The formation process of cyclobutylpyrimidine dimers: cross sections, action spectra and quantum yields

The dimerization and monomerization cross sections of the Thy <> Thy (cyclobutyl dimer of thymine and thymine) and the Cyt <> Thy (cyclobutyl dimer of cytosine and thymine) dimers were determined in Escherichia coli [3H]-DNA ([3H]-thymine labeled DNA) at five wavelengths in the range 240-300 nm. It may be concluded from the dimerization action spectra for the two dimers that the excitation of Thy (thymine) is mainly responsible for the photochemical dimerization reaction in both cases. The calculated quantum yields of dimerization and monomerization are also presented and several questions, raised by the results obtained at 300 nm, are discussed. (author)