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Stacking Aggregation and Photodimerization of Thymine Chromophores in Aqueous Solutions of Polythymidylic Acid

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Abstract

Heterogeneity of aqueous solutions of polythymidylic acid (poly-T) at room temperature is established by luminescence and absorption spectroscopy. It is found that there exist two fractions of thymine chromophores: (1) a photoactive fraction consisting of two types of stacking aggregates with a structure optimal for photodimerization, the first type having absorption bands at 250 and 280 nm (exciton splitting 4300 cm–1), and the second type, at 260 and 290 nm (exciton splitting 4000 cm–1), and (2) a photochemically intact fraction with an absorption maximum at 270 nm without evidence of exciton splitting, which probably consists of relatively isolated chromophores.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to V.V. Goryuchko for his help in preparation of graphic materials of this paper.

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Correspondence to V. M. Malkin.

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Translated by M. Basieva

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Malkin, V.M., Rapoport, V.L. Stacking Aggregation and Photodimerization of Thymine Chromophores in Aqueous Solutions of Polythymidylic Acid. Opt. Spectrosc. 130, 310–318 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0030400X22050034

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0030400X22050034

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