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The nitroimidazole-linked phenanthridines 2-NLP-3 (5-[3-(2-nitro-1-imidazoyl)-propyl]-phenanthridinium bromide) and 2-NLP-4 (5-[3-(2-nitro-1-imidazoyl)-butyl]-phenanthridinium bromide) are composed of the radiosensitizer, 2-nitroimidazole, attached to the DNA intercalator phenanthridine by a 3- and 4-carbon linker, respectively. Previous in vitro assays showed both compounds to be 10-100 times more efficient as hypoxic cell radiosensitizers (based on external drug concentrations) than the untargeted 2-nitroimidazole radiosensitizer, misonidazole (Cowan et al., Radiat. Res. 127, 81-89, 1991). Here we have used a (32)P postlabeling assay and 5'-end-labeled oligonucleotide assay to compare the radiation-induced DNA damage generated in the presence of 2-NLP-3, 2-NLP-4, phenanthridine and misonidazole. After irradiation of the DNA under anoxic conditions, we observed a significantly greater level of 3'-phosphoglycolate DNA damage in the presence of 2-NLP-3 or 2-NLP-4 compared to irradiation of the DNA in the presence of misonidazole. This may account at least in part for the greater cellular radiosensitization shown by the nitroimidazole-linked phenanthridines over misonidazole. Of the two nitroimidazole-linked phenanthridines, the better in vitro radiosensitizer, 2-NLP-4, generated more 3'-phosphoglycolate in DNA than did 2-NLP-3. At all concentrations, phenanthridine had little effect on the levels of DNA damage, suggesting that the enhanced radiosensitization displayed by 2-NLP-3 and 2-NLP-4 is due to the localization of the 2-nitroimidazole to the DNA by the phenanthridine substituent and not to radiosensitization by the phenanthridine moiety itself.