Radical migration through the DNA helix: chemistry at a distance

The reaction of the DNA bases with radical species generated by radiation, carcinogens, or oxidative stress can lead to mutagenic damage [1]. The efficiency and dynamics of radical transport through the DNA helix therefore hold profound biological implications. Intriguing questions concerning charge migration through DNA arise that can now begin to be addressed through well-defined chemical experiments. Does radical migration through DNA occur over long molecular distances? How is it modulated by DNA sequence and the structural variations in DNA? Is it physiologically important? How general is this phenomenon? These are issues that need to be addressed in the context of delineating mechanisms of DNA damage and repair