Electron trapping in double-stranded DNA: Implications for formation of double-stranded breaks

Calculations on electron trapping in DNA show that, in the absence of interstrand transfer, the hole on one strand will increase the probability of electron trapping on the other strand at the base directly opposite the hole. The roughly 20-fold increase results from the site acting as a sink for electrons initially localized about five bases to either side of it. In the absence of recombination, the resultant radical pair is positioned to potentiate a flush double-strand break.