Reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide anion produces the highly reactive species peroxynitrite (ONOO-). This compound has been shown to be a strong oxidant of lipids and proteins. However, no data are available on its effect on DNA, with the exception of the induction of strand breaks. We report the result of studies on the reactions of peroxynitrite with the adenine and guanine moieties of nucleosides and isolated DNA. The samples were analyzed for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dGuo),2,2-diamino-4-[(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl) amino]-5-(2H)-oxazolone (oxazolone) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyadenosine (8-oxo-dAdo). The effects of peroxynitrite treatment were compared with those of ionizing radiation in aerated aqueous solution, chosen as a source of hydroxyl radicals. At the nucleoside level, both oxidizing conditions led to the formation of oxazolone and 8-oxo-dAdo. In addition, evidence was provided for the formation of the 4R* and 4S* diastereoisomers of 4-hydroxy-8-oxo-4, 8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine. The latter dGuo oxidation products were chosen as markers of the release of singlet oxygen (1O2) upon reaction of peroxynitrous acid with hydrogen peroxide. Oxidation of purine bases was then studied within isolated DNA. A significant increase in the level of 8-oxo-dGuo, oxazolone and 8-oxo-dAdo was observed within double stranded DNA upon exposure to gamma-radiation. Oxazolone and 8-oxo-dAdo were formed upon peroxynitrite treatment but no significant increase in the amount of 8-oxo-dGuo was detected. These results showed that peroxynitrite exhibits oxidizing properties toward purine moieties both in nucleosides and isolated DNA. However, the significant differences in the oxidative damage distribution within DNA observed after exposure to gamma radiation by comparison with peroxynitrite treatment questions the involvement of hydroxyl radicals as the main oxidizing species released by decomposition of peroxynitrous acid.