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A polynucleotide helix containing polinosinic acid and protoated polycytidylic acid
Author(s) -
Giani Giovanni,
Rich Alexander
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.1964.360020502
Subject(s) - protonation , chemistry , polynucleotide , titration , hydrogen bond , cytosine , formaldehyde , stoichiometry , stereochemistry , crystallography , helix (gastropod) , molecule , dna , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , ion , ecology , snail , biology
Titration studies of the 1 : 1 helical polynucleotide complex of polyinosinic acid and polycytidylic acid reveal that these two polymers form a complex when the polycytidylic acid is protonated near pH 3. Sedimentation studies show that the protonated complex also has a 1 : 1 stoichiometry. However, the protonated complex is more stable than the unprotonated neutral complex as judged by its thermal stability. The molecular structure of the protonated complex is not the same as the neutral form. Study of the kinetics of the reaction of the protonated complex with formaldehyde suggests that the amino group of cytosine is involved in hydrogen bonds which hold the polynucleotide strands together.