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Microwave studies of the interaction of DNA and water in the temperature range 90–300 K
Author(s) -
Cross Thomas E.,
Pethig Ronald
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
international journal of quantum chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-461X
pISSN - 0020-7608
DOI - 10.1002/qua.560240717
Subject(s) - dielectric , chemistry , relaxation (psychology) , molecule , microwave , solvation shell , dna , water of crystallization , atmospheric temperature range , range (aeronautics) , freezing point depression , freezing point , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemical physics , thermodynamics , materials science , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , solvation , physics , psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , optoelectronics , quantum mechanics , composite material
Abstract Microwave dielectric measurements are reported for herring sperm DNA as a function of hydration and temperature. A considerable proportion of the primary hydration shell is found to have signficantly different physical properties from those of normal bulk water in terms of the behavior of the dielectric relaxation at temperatures below 273 K. A maximum value for the effective freezing point depression of around 138 K is found to occur at a hydration corresponding to about 280 water molecules per DNA helix turn. This hydration level is in close agreement with the number of water molecules calculated by Clementi to be strongly influenced by the global electric field of B‐DNA, and the dielectric results are in general agreement with infrared and NMR studies reported in the literature.