Biopolym. Cell. 2010; 26(1):72-76.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7124/bc.000147
Molecular Biophysics
How stable are the mutagenic tautomers of DNA bases?
1, 2Brovarets' O. O., 1, 3Hovorun D. M.
  1. Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine
    150, Akademika Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv, Ukraine, 03680
  2. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
    64, Volodymyrska Str., Kyiv, Ukraine, 01601
  3. Institute of High Technologies,
    Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
    2, korp.5, Pr. Akademika Hlushkova, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03022

Abstract

Aim. To determine the lifetime of the mutagenic tautomers of DNA base pairs through the investigation of the physicochemical mechanisms of their intramolecular proton transfer. Methods. Non-empirical quantum chemistry, the analysis of the electron density by means of Bader’s atom in molecules (AIM) theory and physicochemical kinetics were used. Results. Physicochemical character of the transition state of the intramolecular tautome- risation of DNA bases was investigated, the lifetime of mutagenic tautomers was calculated. Conclusions. The lifetime of the DNA bases mutagenic tautomers by 3–10 orders exceeds typical time of DNA replication in the cell (~103 s). This fact confirms that the postulate, on which the Watson-Crick tautomeric hypothesis of spontaneous transitions grounds, is adequate. The absence of intramolecular H-bonds in the canonical and mutagenic tautomeric forms determine their high stability.
Keywords: DNA bases, mutagenic tautomers, the lifetime, intramolecular proton transfer, quantum-chemical calculations
Full text: (PDF, in Ukrainian)

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