Detection of Oxidative Damage of Synthetic Oligonucleotides Caused by Thallium(III) Complexes

Abstract Biologically important short sequences of DNA were treated with Tl(III) complexes. The chloride complex releases the Tl(III) cation and therefore oxidizes DNA components and at concentrations higher than 50 nM cuts the strands. The cuts are well seen in the EQCM plots. The change in the strand structure is well seen at CD and UV‐Vis spectra. The chelate complexes of Tl(III) do not damage the DNA strands. The SERS spectra were particularly useful in demonstration of the chemical changes and orientation vs. the surface changes of particular groups in the strands after interaction with TlCl 4 − .