UV damage to nucleic acid components

Abstract The focus of this chapter is to review the main available data on the UV-mediated damage to nucleic acid components. Emphasis is placed on both the main UVB- and UVA-induced DNA photoproducts together with the mechanisms of their formation. The survey also includes information obtained within cellular DNA, taking into account the limitations of the different analytical methods that were applied to monitor the formation of the DNA damage. This concerns on the one hand, UVB radiation-induced DNA damage that is produced by direct absorption of UVB photons, and on the other, UVA damage generated through photosensitization reactions that involve the absorption of the UVA light by endogenous photosensitizers.