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Analyzing and Building Nucleic Acid Structures with 3DNA
Published on: April 26, 2013
Bond breaking and temporary anion states in uracil and halouracils: implications for the DNA bases
A M Scheer1, K Aflatooni, G A Gallup
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0111, USA.
Abstract:
Low energy electrons are capable of breaking bonds in gas phase DNA bases by means of the dissociative electron attachment process. With the aid of new total scattering data in the halouracils and input from quantum chemical calculations, we describe the dipole bound and valence anion states in these compounds and present assignments for the two types of structure appearing in the cross sections. A clear distinction between the two mechanisms for bond breaking is necessary for an understanding of electron induced damage to DNA.
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