Reactions of estradiol-2,3-quinone with deoxyribonucleosides: possible insights in the reactivity of estrogen quinones with DNA.

Estrogen 2,3- and 3,4-quinones are reactive species toward nucleophiles and Michael acceptors. As such, they can bind to DNA and induce cellular damages. As an alkylation model, reactions of estradiol-2,3-quinone with deoxyribonucleosides were previously studied by mass spectrometry.