Free radical damage to DNA

Free radical damage to DNA can occur as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation or to radiomimetic^[1] compounds. Damage to DNA as a result of free radical attack is called indirect DNA damage because the radicals formed can diffuse throughout the body and affect other organs. Malignant melanoma can be caused by indirect DNA damage because it is found in parts of the body not exposed to sunlight. DNA is vulnerable to radical attack because of the very labile hydrogens that can be abstracted and the prevalence of double bonds in the DNA bases that free radicals can easily add to.^[2]

^ Cite error: The named reference controversy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Greenberg MM (2016). "Reactivity of Nucleic Acid Radicals". Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry. 50. Elsevier: 119–202. doi:10.1016/bs.apoc.2016.02.001. ISBN 978-0-12-804716-3. PMC 5435387. PMID 28529390.

[controversy-1] Cite error: The named reference controversy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] Greenberg MM (2016). "Reactivity of Nucleic Acid Radicals". Advances in Physical Organic Chemistry. 50. Elsevier: 119–202. doi:10.1016/bs.apoc.2016.02.001. ISBN 978-0-12-804716-3. PMC 5435387. PMID 28529390.

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