Experimental and ab initio study of the photofragmentation of DNA and RNA sugars.

The photoelectron-photoion-photoion coincidence method is used to measure the photodissociation of doubly charged D-ribose (C5H10O5), the RNA sugar molecules, and 2-deoxy-D-ribose (C5H10O4), the DNA sugar molecules, following normal Auger decay after initial C 1s and O 1s core ionizations. The fragment identification is facilitated by measuring isotopically labeled D-ribose, such as D-ribose deuterated at C(1), and with 13C at the C(5) position. Ab initio quantum chemistry calculations are used to gain further insight into the abundant appearance of the CHO+ fragment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]