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Geometry of DNA–dye intercalation complexes from the study of linear dichroic spectra of stretched films
Author(s) -
Kelly Gregory R.,
Kurucsev Tomas
Publication year - 1976
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.1976.360150804
Subject(s) - chemistry , dichroic glass , intercalation (chemistry) , proflavine , vinyl alcohol , dichroism , linear dichroism , crystallography , perpendicular , helix (gastropod) , dna , acriflavine , circular dichroism , optics , polymer , geometry , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , mathematics , ecology , snail , biology
Films of DNA–dye complexes were combined with films of pure DNA deposited on poly(vinyl alcohol) support and stretched. Reproducible dichroic spectra were obtained after equilibration of the stretched films at 93% relative humidity. Dye diffusion into the supporting poly(vinl alcohol) matrix was eliminated. The long axis of intercalated acriflavine is perpendicular to the DNA helix; proflavine deviates slightly and 9‐aminoacridine significantly from such an intercalation geometry. The dichroism of two mutually perpendicularly polarized transitions of 9‐aminoacridine enabled us to determine both the angles of tilt and twist of the plane of the dye relative to the DNA helix in the complex.