The mutagenic 8-oxoguanosine monophosphate, the predominant, product of DNA oxidation, is excised by formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (Fpg) in bacteria. The mechanism of recognition of 8-oxodG, which differs subtly from its normal counterpart, guanosine monophosphate (dG), by Escherichia coli Fpg remains elusive due to the lack of structural data of E. coli Fpg bound to 8-oxodG: Here, we present solution-state structure of 8-oxodG oligomer bound to E. coli E3Q Fpg using UV resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy. The vibrational spectra report on the pi-stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions established by 8-oxodG with E. coli E3Q Fpg. Furthermore, we report on the interactions of E. coli E3Q Fpg with the normal, undamaged nucleotide, dG. We show that E. coli Fpg recognizes 8-oxodG and dG through their C2-amino group but only 8-oxodG forms extensive contacts with E. coli Fpg. Our findings provide a basis for mechanism of lesion recognition by E. coli Fpg.