Breaking action of reductones related to ascorbic acid on nucleic acids.

Abstract
The action of 2 types of ascorbate-related reductones on nucleic acids was investigated by comparison with that of ascorbic acid (AsA). Amino reductone (ScA) and thiol reductone (MHC) caused strand-scissions in nucleic acids. Reductones lowered the viscosity of DNA solution and shifted the peaks of DNA and RNA to the low molecular side in centrifugal profile. Cu2+ strengthened their action as in the case of enediol reductones. The breaking activity of thiol reductone was relatively weak compared with those of amino and enediol reductones. The preferential degradation of apurinic acid was caused with amino and thiol reductones, suggesting that pyrimidine clusters in nucleic acids were susceptible to breakage. [This study has general relevance to food technology.].

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: