Reactivity of lesions derived from abasic (AP) sites in DNA

DNA is vital to cellular function. Therefore, maintaining the integrity of the structure of DNA is of the utmost importance. Damage to the DNA is unavoidable and can be detrimental to organisms. Abasic (Ap) sites are the most abundant form of DNA damage and are present in steady state levels of 10,000 Ap sites per cell per day. These lesions have been studied in the past, but there is still much to know about these noxious, electrophilic lesions. This thesis attempts to use the tools of organic and bio-organic chemistry to study the reactivity, structure, and repair of the Ap site and its derivatives.