The radiation chemistry of the DNA tetranucleoside triphosphate d(ApCpGpT) was investigated. Irradiations were carried out on aqueous solutions saturated with oxygen (with and without added Cu++), nitrogen or nitrous oxide. When oxygen was present, principal products were formed by hydroxylation at the 8-position of guanine and by degradation of thymine leaving a formamido remnant. Products were also formed containing both of the aforementioned lesions at adjacent deoxyguanosine and pyrimidine nucleosides. Other products resulted from rearrangement of the thymine ring generating two diastereoisomers of the 5-methyl-5-hydroxyhydantoin modification of d(ApCpGpT). Rearrangement of the cytosine ring occurred generating imidazolidine products and a hydantoin product. The product profiles are similar when either an N2O or N2 gaseous environment is maintained. However, in the latter case the dihydrothymine modifications of d(ApCpGpT) are markedly enhanced. Other products include an 8,5' cyclized product formed from the 2'-deoxyadenosine nucleoside and the 8-hydroxyguanine modification. 6-Hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine and 5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine modifications of the thymidine nucleoside were also observed. A strand break product formed in oxygenated solution is also produced in nitrous oxide saturated solutions. Scission of the deoxyadenosine terminus was also observed. The effect of several of these lesions on d(ApCpGpT) as substrate for nuclease P1, bovine spleen phosphodiesterase and snake venom phosphodiesterase was studied.