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Circular dichroism of helices formed by purine monomers with pyrimidine polynucleotides
Author(s) -
Mathelier Hansie Dorcal,
Howard F. B.,
Miles H. Todd
Publication year - 1979
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.1979.360180315
Subject(s) - polynucleotide , chemistry , monomer , circular dichroism , pyrimidine , helix (gastropod) , crystallography , polymer , spectral line , stereochemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , ecology , physics , astronomy , snail , biology
Abstract The CD spectra of a number of helical complexes formed by purine monomers and complementary pyrimidine polyribonucleotides have been observed over the range 200–400 nm. Each of these spectra is quite similar to that of the corresponding polymer–polymer helix. The spectra are evidently determined by the geometry of the asymmetric array of bases, largely unperturbed by the ribose–phosphate backbone. The helix structure (A‐form), on the other hand, is determined by the backbone of the pyrimidine homopolymer. Data on the monomer–polymer complexes support the conclusion that the CD spectra of ribohomopolymer helices depend primarily on interastrand interactions of the same transition within a given base and are relatively unaffected by transitions of the complementary base.