Novel Studies of the Spectroscopic Signature of the Skin Cancer-causing Cyclobutane Cross-link in DNA

Abstract

1,2,3,4-Cyclobutanetetracarboxylic acid was chosen as a drastically simplified model of the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer in DNA. Its interaction with cisplatin was studied by XPS i.a. at the synchrotron light source ASTRID2 in Aarhus, Denmark. The recorded data proves an interaction between cisplatin and 1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic acid, but no break of the cyclobutane ring. Furthermore, radiation damage due to X-rays on 1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylic acid, cyclobutane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid has been observed for the first time.