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Raman spectral studies of nucleic acids. XI. Conformations of yeast tRNA Phe and E. coli ribosomal RNA in aqueous solution and in the solid state
Author(s) -
Chen M. C.,
Thomas G. J.
Publication year - 1974
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.1974.360130313
Subject(s) - transfer rna , chemistry , aqueous solution , raman spectroscopy , nucleic acid , rna , crystallography , yeast , raman scattering , nucleotide , dna , ribosomal rna , biochemistry , physics , optics , gene
Laser‐excited Raman spectra of tRNA Phe from yeast and of fractionated 16S and 23S rRNA from E. coli are reported for samples in aqueous solution and in the solid state. The Raman scattering spectrum of each RNA is not significantly altered by the change from an aqueous to a solid environment and displays the same characteristic frequencies and intensities associated with ordered polyribonucleotide structures. Unlike DNA, the backbone conformation of RNA thus appears to be largely insensitive to gross changes in the degree of hydration. Raman scattering from the phosphate group vibrations of aqueous tRNA yeast Phe is qualitatively and quantitatively the same as obtained from previously studied tRNA's and is indicative of a highly ordered conformational structure in which some 85% of the nucleotide residues are in ordered configurations. The major differences observed between spectra of tRNA and rRNA are attributed to differences in base composition of these RNA's.