Kinetics of Dimer Formation and Photohydration in Ultraviolet‐irradiated Polyuridylic Acid

The decrease in absorbance at 2600 Å of poly‐U following u.v. irradiation is analyzed quantitatively in terms of uracil‐dimer formation and photohydration of uracil residues. At all wave lengths tested between 2300 and 2800 Å both dirner formation and hydration occur as well as dimer breakage. The cross section for uracil dirner breakage is large at 2300 and decreases to a relatively small value at 2800 Å. Consequently, at the shorter wave lengths the steady state for dimer formation and breakage is reached at lower doses than for the longer wave lengths. Absorbance decreases caused by longer wave lengths can be partially restored by irradiation with 2380 Å. At high doses, for all wave lengths, the main photoproducts are hydrated uracil residues. The maximum number of dimers that may be formed increases with wavelength. The absorbance loss caused by photohydration may be reversed by acidification and heat. For 2650 Å irradiation, 95 per cent of the absorbance is restored by a combination of the 2380 Å and thermal treatment. The values for the photochemical reactions of poly‐U are fairly close to those for poly‐T and for uridine.