Molecular Consequences of the Auger Effect: The Fate of Iododeoxyuridine Following Iodine-125 Decay

Abstract

Two hypotheses have been advanced to explain the extreme biological toxicity of DNA-associated125 I: (a) high local concentrations of radiation energy from low-energy Auger electrons; (b) charge-induced molecular fragmentation in the DNA. To distinguish between these two hypotheses, an attempt was made to evaluate the molecular events associated with the Auger effect. Doubly labeled iododeoxyuridine was synthesized, with125 I in number 5 position and14 C in number 2 position of the pyrimidine ring. To achieve the high degree of radiochemical purity required for this experiment, the doubly labeled iododeoxyuridine was subjected to three consecutive column separations using Biogel P-2 (minus 400 mesh). The final, pure sample of ${}^{14}{\rm C}-{}^{125}{\rm I}\text{-iododeoxyuridine}$ was incubated at 4°C for 76 days and then subjected to further column analysis. The fate of iododeoxyuridine after125 I decay was ascertained by monitoring the distribution of14 C activity in the elution pr...