Excited-State Dynamics of DNA Duplexes with Different H-Bonding Motifs

The excited-state dynamics of three distinct forms of the d(GC)(9)center dot d(GC)(9) DNA duplex were studied by combined time-resolved infrared experiments and quantum mechanical calculations. In the B- and Z-forms, bases on opposite strands form Watson-Crick (WC) base pairs but stack differently because of salt-induced changes in backbone conformation. At low pH, the two strands associate by Hoogsteen (HG) base pairing. Ultraviolet-induced intrastrand electron transfer (ET) triggers interstrand proton transfer (PT) in the B- and Z-forms, but the PT pathway is blocked in the HG duplex. Despite the different decay mechanisms, a common excited-state lifetime of similar to 30 ps is observed in all three duplex forms. The ET-PT pathway in the WC duplexes and the solely intrastrand ET pathway in the HG duplex yield the same pair of pi-stacked radicals on one strand. Back ET between these radicals is proposed to be the rate-limiting step behind excited-state deactivation in all three duplexes.