Destabilization of DNA through interstrand crosslinking by UO22+.

UO₂²⁺ was shown to form an interstrand crosslink between two different strands of a single DNA molecule. This crosslink hardly affected the hydrogen bonds between nucleobase pairs but destabilized the π–π stacking between the two nucleobases in the vicinity of UO₂²⁺-bound phosphate. Thereby, the fragility of the DNA backbone increased upon UO₂²⁺ binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]