Ozone degradation of ribonucleic acid (RNA)

RNA ozonized in powder form in the solid state was found to be significantly less reactive than in the case of the aqueous solution. After 24 h ozonization in the solid state, RNA shows a certain reduction in the specific optical rotation (much less compared to RNA ozonized in aqueous solution at the equivalent nominal molar ratio) suggesting the occurrence of a certain degree of denaturation. The FT-IR spectra of the ozonized RNA are discussed in comparison to the reference pristine RNA spectrum.