Degradation of nucleic acids with ozone. I. Degradation of nucleobases,ribonucleosides and ribonucleoside-5'-monophosphates.

Abstract

The degradation of nucleobases, ribonucleosides and ribonucleotides with ozone was examined as a model of the action of ozone on nucleic acids. The degradation rates of nucleobases were in the following order : G, T>U>C>A. Nucleosides and nucleotides were degraded in the same order as in the corresponding nucleobases. The ribose moiety was degraded more slowly than the base portion in nucleosides and nucleotides except in the cases of adenosine and AMP. The degradation of D-ribose and D-ribose-5-phosphoric acid (R5P) was also examined, and it was found that R5P resisted the attack of ozone. Inorganic phosphate was liberated after the degradation of the ribose moiety.