# EFFECTS OF LIGHT ON NUCLEIC ACIDS

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE · 1989 · $135,291

## Abstract

The purpose of this project is to determine the effects of light
on model nucleic acids, and how alterations in chemical structure
and conformation relate to modified biological activities
(mutagenesis and carcinogenesis).  Ribosyl- and deoxy-
oligonucleotides of defined sequence are chemically synthesized.
These nucleic acids contain normal and fluorinated bases.  They are
irradiated with different wavelengths of light, but concentrating
on the ultraviolet-B region (280-320 nm).  Various photosensitizers
are used in the presence and absence of oxygen.  The photoproducts
which result are separated and purified in the intact nucleic acid
using TLC and HPLC, and are structurally characterized using UV,
mass spectrometry and NMR.  The conformation of the various
photoproducts are determined as well as the effects they transmit
to neighboring regions of the normal nucleic acid using multi-
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, x-ray crystallography,
molecular modelling and energy minimization techniques.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177664
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039027-05
- **Recipient organization:** ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES L ALDERFER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $135,291
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-12-01 → 1992-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177664

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177664, EFFECTS OF LIGHT ON NUCLEIC ACIDS (5R01CA039027-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177664. Licensed CC0.

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