Year: 1989
Type: report
Abstract: This progress report is a summary of the research performed. Part I deals with mechanisms of photoemission from organic particulates, theoretical studies of the photoemission of electrons into atmospheres containing scavenger molecules, and theoretical studies of the possible existence of excitonic ions. Particularly noteworthy are our most recent results on the effects of water monolayers on the photoemission of electrons from adenine which show that the emission of electrons may take place over time intervals as long as several tenths of picoseconds after the absorption of a photon. Part II deals with the mechanisms of electrolytic reactions which occur at solid anthracene/aqueous electrolyte interfaces. Part III describes our most recent results on the physico-chemical interactions of mutagenic and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivatives with nucleic acids. Within the last year, we stressed the influence of the structure of the nucleic acid based which are the building blocks of DNA; next year, we plan to investigate the role of the structural parameters of PAH molecules on these interactions which should provide a deeper understanding of the factors which distinguish mutagenic from non-mutagenic compounds. Finally, in Part IV we briefly summarize our project on mechanisms of damage induced by ionizing radiation, and mechanisms of protection from such damage by exogenous molecules. Synthetic oligonucleotides of well defined base composition and sequence, as well as viral supercoiled DNA is being used.
DOI: 10.2172/5669357
Authors: N. Geacintov, M. Pope
Language: English
Subfield: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: U.S. Department of Energy
OpenAlex ID: W4229804610