DIRECT OBSERVATION OF DNA REPAIR IN PHOTOLYASE

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Photolyase splits cyclobutane ring of pyrimidine dimer (CPD) in DNA in a light (350-500nm) driven reaction and thus reverses the harmful effects of far-UV (200-300nm). Through resonance energy transfer from photoantenna MTHF or directly by absorption of visible light, reduced flavin cofactor (FADH$^{-}$) transfers an electron to CPD which subsequently splits into two pyrimidines. Concomitantly, an electron is transferred back to the oxidized neutral radical (FADH$^{o}$) to restore the active form (FADH$^{-}$). With femtosecond resolution we followed the functional evolution and observed forward and backward electron transfer reactions as well as the entire DNA-repair process. These dynamics occur in the picosecond time scale, raveling the ultrafast nature of DNA-repair mechanism

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Author Institution: Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry, OSU Biophysics, Chemical Physics and Biochemistry Programs, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210

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