Abstract
Raman spectroscopic measurements on aqueous solutions of poly(dG) · poly(dC)indicate that the conformation of the polynucleotides in this double helicalcomplex are distributed between the A and B types at room temperature, the Aform being predominant at −15°C and decreasing progressively upon raising thetemperature to 65°C. A reversible pretransition has been found in this complexnear 70°C. Modifications in the spectra at this temperature indicate no majorconformational changes, but rather suggest altered base pairing and hydration ofthe carbonyl groups, accompanied by a slight distortion of the double helix,resulting in a slightly reduced stacking of the cytosine bases. Measurements inself-pressurized solutions of the complex at high temperature show that it meltsat 103°C in 0.1M NaCl solution (107°C in 0.5M NaCl). These values are somewhatlower than those we have determined in the same manner for the complexpoly(dG-dC) · poly(dG-dC): 117°C in 0.1M MgCl2 and 113°C or higher in 0.1MNaCl solution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
W. Saenger, Principles of Nucleic Acid Structure (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1984).
P. Mercier, V. Carrier, S. Roy, and R. Savoie, Biopolymers 49, 21 (1999).
J. M. Benevides, A. H. J. Wang, A. Rich, Y. Kyogoku, G. A. van der Marel, J. H. van Boom, and G. J. Thomas, Jr., Biochemistry 25, 41 (1986).
F. M. Pohl and T. M. Jovin, J. Mol. Biol. 67, 375 (1972).
D. E. Irish, T. Jarv, and C. I. Ratcliffe, Appl. Spectrosc. 36, 137 (1982).
J. T. Bulmer, D. E. Irish, and L. Odberg, Can. J. Chem. 53, 3806 (1975).
R. Savoie, M. Pézolet, S. Dallaire, and C. Simard, Can. J. Appl. Spectrosc. 39, 164 (1994).
R. Savoie and M. Pigeon-Gosselin, Can. J. Spectrosc. 28, 133 (1983).
D. G. Cameron, J. K. Kauppinen, D. J. Moffatt, and H. H. Mantsch, Appl. Spectrosc. 36, 245 (1982).
S. C. Erfurth and W. L. Peticolas, Biopolymers 14, 247 (1975).
C. H. Chou and G. J. Thomas, Jr., Biopolymers 16, 765 (1977).
T. O'Connor and W. M. Scovell, Biopolymers 20, 2351 (1981).
E. W. Small and W. L. Peticolas, Biopolymers 10, 69, (1971).
S. C. Erfurth, E. J. Kiser, and W. L. Peticolas, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69, 938 (1972).
Y. Nishimura, M. Tsuboi, T. Nakano, S. Higuchi, T. Sato, T. Shida, S. Uesigi, E. Ohtsuka, and M. Ikehara, Nucleic Acids Res. 11, 1579 (1983).
J. M. Benevides and G. J. Thomas, Jr., Nucleic Acids Res. 11, 5747 (1983).
B. Prescott, W. Steinmetz, and G. J. Thomas, Jr., Biopolymers 23, 235 (1984).
Y. Nishimura, C. Torigoe, and M. Tsuboi, Biopolymers 24, 1841 (1985).
S. Arnott and E. Selsing, J. Mol. Biol. 88, 551 (1974).
G. A. Thomas and W. L. Peticolas, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 105, 993 (1983).
T. E. Cheatham, J. Srinivasa, D. A. Case, and P. A. Kollman, J. Biomol. Structure Dynamics 16, 265 (1998).
E. W. Small and W. L. Peticolas, Biopolymers 10, 1377 (1971).
J. Marmur and P. Doty, J. Mol. Biol. 5, 109 (1962).
A. Dugaiczyk, D. L. Robberson, and A. Ullrich, Biochemistry 19, 5869 (1980).
A. H. J. Wang, G. J. Quigley, F. J. Kolpak, J. L. Crawford, J. H. van Boom, G. van der Marel, and A. Rich, Nature (London) 282, 680 (1979)
M. Behe and G. Felsenfeld, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 1619 (1981).
J. H. van de Sande and T. M. Jovin, EMBO J. 1, 115 (1985).
H. H. Klump, E. Schmid, and M. Wosgien, Nucleic Acid Res. 21, 2343 (1993).
M. J. Behe, G. Felsenfeld, S. C. Szu, and E. Charney, Biopolymers 24, 289 (1985).
T. J. Thamann, R. C. Lord, A. H. J. Wang, and A. Rich, Nucleic Acids Res. 9, 5443 (1981).
Y. Z. Chen and E.W. Prohofsky, Biopolymers 33, 797 (1993).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carrier, V., Savoie, R. Raman Spectroscopic Study of the Conformation and Melting of Poly(dG) · Poly(dC) and Poly(dG-dC) · Poly(dG-dC) in Aqueous Solution. Journal of Solution Chemistry 29, 1027–1038 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005147019985
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005147019985