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The speed of sound in DNA
Author(s) -
Hakim M. B.,
Lindsay S. M.,
Powell J.
Publication year - 1984
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.360230704
Subject(s) - speed of sound , fiber , chemistry , sound (geography) , perpendicular , brillouin scattering , dna , isotropy , anisotropy , optics , molecular physics , laser , acoustics , physics , geometry , biochemistry , mathematics , organic chemistry
We have used Brillouin scattering to determine the speed of sound in (and hence longitudinal modulus of) A‐ and B‐DNA fibers. The speed of sound is very sensitive to the degree of hydration of the fibers, and measurements have to be made at laser powers below 5 mW to avoid local heating and dehydration. Under those conditions, we obtain sound speed perpendicular to the fiber axis of about 2.2 and 1.9 km/s in A‐ and B‐DNA fibers, respectively. A‐DNA fibers show a small anisotropy with sound speeds along the fiber axis higher by up to 10% B‐DNA fibers appear to be isotropic.