Possible mechanisms for damage of DNA by OH radicals

It has been widely assumed that effects of radiation on DNA in solution are initiated by reaction with OH radicals. The mechanisms involved in the radiolysis of aqueous solutions are well known and so the authors have made an elementary examination of the possible roles of OH radicals in solutions of DNA. Starting from the concept of spur and adopting a procedure based on Monte Carlo technique, results are presented to show how various radical products decay in pure water for low-LET irradiation. Following the same technique results are also presented for the extent of single strand breaks and double strand breaks in SV40 DNA caused by -OH radicals. The present theoretical status of high-LET track effects for evaluating DNA damage in aqueous solution is discussed also