Role of excited states in low-energy electron (LEE) induced strand breaks in DNA model systems: influence of aqueous environment.

Anil Kumar, Michael D Sevilla

Index: ChemPhysChem 10 , 1426-1430, (2009)

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Abstract

Low-energy electrons (LEEs) interact with a DNA model system to create a variety of excited states. In the gas phase, dissociative (sigma*) states are accessible by LEEs with energy <4 eV (see picture) and cause facile strand breaks through a dissociative electron attachment mechanism. However, under solvation these dissociative (sigma*) states are blue-shifted and are less accessible to LEEs.