E.s.r. studies for chemical modification of biologically active nucleic acids by the sulphite radical anion, SO3–

Abstract

The addition of the sulphite radical anion, SO₃^–, [generated from the system Ti³⁺–ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid–hydrogen peroxide–sodium sulphite in aqueous alkaline solution at pH 9] to uracil derivatives such as 2-thiouracil and 6-methyl-2-thiouracil was observed by use of an e.s.r. method coupled with a rapid-mixing flow technique, indicating that the SO₃^– radical is one of the active agents for the chemical modification of biologically active nucleic acids by the hydrogen sulphite ion.