@article{SchuermannTseringTanzeretal.2017,
  author    = {Sch{\"u}rmann, Robin Mathis and Tsering, Thupten and Tanzer, Katrin and Denifl, Stephan and Kumar, S. V. K. and Bald, Ilko},
  title     = {Resonant Formation of Strand Breaks in Sensitized Oligonucleotides Induced by Low-Energy Electrons (0.5-9 eV)},
  series = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition},
  volume    = {56},
  journal   = {Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {1433-7851},
  doi       = {10.1002/anie.201705504},
  pages     = {10952 -- 10955},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Halogenated nucleobases are used as radiosensitizers in cancer radiation therapy, enhancing the reactivity of DNA to secondary low-energy electrons (LEEs). LEEs induce DNA strand breaks at specific energies (resonances) by dissociative electron attachment (DEA). Although halogenated nucleobases show intense DEA resonances at various electron energies in the gas phase, it is inherently difficult to investigate the influence of halogenated nucleobases on the actual DNA strand breakage over the broad range of electron energies at which DEA can take place (<12 eV). By using DNA origami nanostructures, we determined the energy dependence of the strand break cross-section for oligonucleotides modified with 8-bromoadenine ((8Br)A). These results were evaluated against DEA measurements with isolated (8Br)A in the gas phase. Contrary to expectations, the major contribution to strand breaks is from resonances at around 7 eV while resonances at very low energy (<2 eV) have little influence on strand breaks.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{daSilvaVarellaJonesetal.2019,
  author    = {da Silva, Filipe Ferreira and Varella, Marcio T. do N. and Jones, Nykola C. and Hoffmann, Soren Vronning and Denifl, Stephan and Bald, Ilko and Kopyra, Janina},
  title     = {Electron-Induced Reactions in 3-Bromopyruvic Acid},
  series = {Chemistry - a European journal},
  volume    = {25},
  journal   = {Chemistry - a European journal},
  number    = {21},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {0947-6539},
  doi       = {10.1002/chem.201806132},
  pages     = {5498 -- 5506},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {3-Bromopyruvic acid (3BP) is a potential anticancer drug, the action of which on cellular metabolism is not yet entirely clear. The presence of a bromine atom suggests that it is also reactive towards low-energy electrons, which are produced in large quantities during tumour radiation therapy. Detailed knowledge of the interaction of 3BP with secondary electrons is a prerequisite to gain a complete picture of the effects of 3BP in different forms of cancer therapy. Herein, dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to 3BP in the gas phase has been studied both experimentally by using a crossed-beam setup and theoretically through scattering and quantum chemical calculations. These results are complemented by a vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectrum. The main fragmentation channel is the formation of Br- close to 0 eV and within several resonant features at 1.9 and 3-8 eV. At low electron energies, Br- formation proceeds through sigma* and pi* shape resonances, and at higher energies through core-excited resonances. It is found that the electron-capture cross-section is clearly increased compared with that of non-brominated pyruvic acid, but, at the same time, fragmentation reactions through DEA are significantly altered as well. The 3BP transient negative ion is subject to a lower number of fragmentation reactions than those of pyruvic acid, which indicates that 3BP could indeed act by modifying the electron-transport chains within oxidative phosphorylation. It could also act as a radio-sensitiser.},
  language  = {en}
}