Open AccessProtonated Polynucleotide Structures
Author(s) -
Sarocchi MarieThérèse,
Guschlbauer Wilhelm
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1973.tb02751.x
Subject(s) - protonation , polynucleotide , circular dichroism , metastability , absorbance , chemistry , spectral line , premelting , crystallography , analytical chemistry (journal) , physics , chromatography , biochemistry , organic chemistry , ion , melting point , astronomy
Circular dichroism and absorbance‐difference spectra of polydeoxynucleotides and DNAs of various base composition have been measured at different submelting temperatures. The following results were obtained.1 The changes observed by both techniques correlate poorly with (G + C) content, but follow the normalized YpY, i.e. ( f CpC + f TpT )/ x G+C , and not the mixed RpY, i.e. ( f ApT + f TpA )/ y A+T , nearest‐neighbour frequencies. 2 Small pH changes have considerable effect on the difference spectra. 3 The metastable protonated form of poly(dG) · poly(dC) Correlates better with the circular dichroism spectra than the non‐protonated form. 4 It is concluded that dC clusters may be at the origin of DNA premelting, especially if they are in the metastable protonated form.