The characterization of (±)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide–DNA adducts and (±)-anti-dibenzo[a,l]pyrene diolepoxide–DNA adducts in the same DNA sample using solid-matrix phosphorescence Original Research Article

Solid-matrix phosphorescence (SMP) spectra and lifetimes were used to characterize the (±)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide [(±)-anti-B[a]PDE] and (±)-anti-dibenzo[a,l]pyrene diolepoxide [(±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE] bonded to the same sample of DNA. SMP spectra and lifetimes were also acquired for two samples of DNA that had only (±)-anti-B[a]PDE or (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE bonded to the individual samples of DNA. A detailed comparison of the SMP properties was made among the three samples of DNA. The SMP excitation spectra for the (±)-anti-B[a]PDE–DNA and the (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE–DNA adducts were very similar. However, the SMP emission spectra of the two DNA adduct systems were very dissimilar with a major emission band for the (±)-anti-B[a]PDE–DNA adducts appearing at 613 nm and for the (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE–DNA adducts a major band was at 558 nm. It was possible to selectively use SMP emission wavelengths and obtain a SMP excitation of spectrum of the (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE–DNA adducts in the dual adducted DNA sample without the (±)-anti-B[a]PDE–DNA adducts emitting SMP. In addition, it was shown that the SMP emission spectrum of the dual adducted DNA sample could be used to detect both adduct systems in the modified DNA sample. It was demonstrated that the SMP lifetimes could be effectively employed to characterize the dual adducted DNA sample. For example, the SMP decay curve for the (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE–DNA adducts could be acquired without any SMP emission from the (±)-anti-B[a]PDE–DNA adducts. Also, ln(SMP intensity) versus time plots were very useful in characterizing the dual adducted DNA sample.