5-Halouracil, which is a DNA base analog in which the methyl group at the C5 position of thymine is replaced with a halogen atom, has been used in studies of DNA damage. In DNA strands, the uracil radical generated from 5-halouracil causes DNA damage via a hydrogen-abstraction reaction. We analyzed the photoreaction of 5-halouracil in various DNA structures and revealed that the reaction is DNA structure-dependent. In this review, we summarize the results of the analysis of the reactivity of 5-halouracil in various DNA local structures. Among the 5-halouracil molecules, 5-bromouracil has been used as a probe in the analysis of photoinduced electron transfer through DNA. The analysis of groove-binder/DNA and protein/DNA complexes using a 5-bromouracil-based electron transfer system is also described.
© 2021 American Society for Photobiology.