Summary
The isothermal denaturation of calf thymus DNA, induced by the presence of some monohydric alcohols in the solution, was investigated. Measurements were performed at a temperature (67.2°C) at which the denaturation, in the absence of alcohols, is about 20% and melting profiles at varying temperatures were also recorded. Results show that with increasing alcohol concentration and alkyl group size DNA denaturation first reaches a maximum and then falls back. This behaviour, ascribed to «unusual» water properties as inferred also from compressibility measurements, indicates that hydrophobic and electrostatic effects are connected in a complex way.
Riassunto
Si è studiata la denaturazione isoterma del DNA da timo di vitello indotta dalla presenza di quattro alcoli semplici in soluzione. Sono state eseguite sia misure a 67.2 °C, temperatura alla quale la frazione denaturata senza alcoli vale circa 20%, che profili di ≪fusione≫ a temperature variabili. I risultati mostrano che, al crescere della concentrazione e del gruppo alchilico degli alcoli la denaturazione dapprima raggiunge un valore massimo e poi torna indietro. Questo comportamento, attribuito alle proprietà ≪insolite≫ dell'acqua come risulta anche da misure di compressibilità indica che gli effetti idrofobici ed elettrostatici intervengono in modo complicato.
Резюме
Исследуется изотермическая денатурация DNA тимуса, индуцированная наличием моногидридных спиртов в растворе. Измерения проводятся при температуре 67.2 °C, при которой денатурация в присутствии спиртов составляет около 20%. Также регистрируются профили плавления при различных температурах. Полученные результаты показывают, что при увеличении концентрации мума, а затем убывает. Это поведение, приписываемое свойствам ≪необыкновенной≫ воды, что получено также из измерений сжимаемости, указывает, что гидрофобные и электростатические эффекты связаны сложным образом.
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Partially supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy.
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Baldini, G., Fu-Hua, H., Varani, G. et al. DNA melting induced by alcohols: Role of the solvent properties. Il Nuovo Cimento D 6, 618–630 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02450597
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02450597