The free-radical chemistry of DNA had been discussed in some detail in 1987 in
my book The Chemical Basis of Radiation Biology. Obviously, the more recent
developments and the concomitant higher level of understanding of mechanistic
details are missing. Moreover, in the living cell, free-radical DNA damage is not
only induced by ionizing radiation, but free-radical-induced DNA damage is a
much more general phenomenon. It was, therefore, felt that it is now timely to
review our present knowledge of free-radical-induced DNA damage induced by
all conceivable free-radical-generating sources. Originally, it had been thought
to include also a very important aspect, the repair of DNA damage by the cell’s
various repair enzymes. Kevin Prise (Cancer Campaign, Gray Laboratory, London)
was so kind to agree to write this part. However, an adequate description of
this strongly expanding area would have exceeded the allocated space by much,
and this section had to be omitted.