Thymidine decomposition induced by low-energy electrons and soft X rays under N2 and O2 atmospheres

A novel technique has been employed to investigate the simultaneous damage to DNA components induced by soft X rays (1.5 keV) and low-energy electrons (0-30 eV) in thin films of thymidine deposited on glass and tantalum substrates and irradiated under atmospheric pressure and temperature. The films were surrounded by either an N2 or O2 environment. The formation of four radiation-induced products is reported in this article: base release, 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (5-HMdUrd), 5-formyl-2'-deoxyuridine (5-FordUrd) and 5,6-dihydrothymidine (5,6-DHThd). Analysis with LC-MS/MS shows larger damage yields in the samples deposited on tantalum than in those deposited on glass, which is attributed to the interaction of the additional low-energy electrons that are photoemitted from the metal surface. From a comparison of the results obtained from N2 and O2 environment, we report a dramatic effect from 6 O2: an approximately threefold increase in the yield of products, attributed to the reaction of O2 with initial carbon-centered thymidine radicals generated in the film during irradiation.