Ammonia and Urea Production and Changes in Absorption Spectra of Nucleic Acid Derivatives Following Ultraviolet Irradiation

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Abstract
Nucleic acid derivatives, adenine, hypoxanthine, guanine, xanthine, uric acid, uracil, cytosine and thymine and some of their nucleosides and nucleotides were irradiated with u.-v. light from a low pressure mercury vapor lamp. Using the criterion of changes in the selective absorption spectrum, it was found that while to some extent a carbonyl group in the 6-position of the pyrimidine ring increases the lability of the compounds to u.-v., the chief factor is a carbonyl group in the 2-position. The imidazole nucleus of the purines does not appreciably influence the susceptibility to irradiation. Ammonia is produced, and is derived chiefly from the ureide group of the pyrimidine ring. The compounds with a carbonyl in the 2-position yield the least ammonia. Urea is liberated, and appears to be derived exclusively from the pyrimidine ureide group. The compounds with a carbonyl in the 2-position yield the most urea. The liberated ammonia is not derived from the irradiation of previously liberated urea.