With this renewal award the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program continues its support for the work of Dr. Cynthia J. Burrows in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Utah. The research extends earlier studies on nickel complex mediated oxidation of DNA by persulfuric acid, to the oxidation of nucleobases in DNA and RNA structures by a variety of oxidizing agents and transition metal complexes. Of particular interest is the oxidation of guanine and further reactions of its common oxidation product, 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine. Results of these studies will have applications in toxicology, polynucleic acid structure, and nucleic acid-protein interactions. The oxidation and subsequent degradation of DNA is implicated in the aging process and in the operation of a number of drugs, for example those used in the treatment of cancer. Students trained on this project will gain valuable experience in bioorganic and bioinorganic chemistry useful in a number of biotechnology fields.
