SUBTLE INTERACTIONS OF CUPRIC ION WITH NUCLEIC ACID AND COMPONENTS

Abstract

Subtle interactions between cupric ions and nucleic acids and their components have been observed by their inhibition of the cupric ion-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate. The effectiveness of cupric ion chelation was purine > purine nucleotide = RNA-DNA > purine nucleoside > pyrimidine nucleotide. The deoxyribose derivatives were uniformly stronger cupric ion chelators. The structure of these chelates and their possible biological significance are briefly discussed.