Formation of radiation-induced cross-links between thymine and tyrosine: possible model for cross-linking of DNA and proteins by ionizing radiation.

A model for radiation-induced cross-linking of DNA and proteins has been developed. It is based on initial formation of free radicals on a DNA base, i.e., thymine, and on an amino acid, i.e., tyrosine. It was demonstrated that interaction of these radicals is highly favored as measured by their kinetics and the cross-linked products. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methodology used for the identification of the thymine-tyrosine cross-links is suggested as an experimental approach in the measurements of biological cross-links.