Effect of a mechanical tension on the hydration of DNA in fibres.
Fiber X-ray diffraction and measurement of fibre dimensions yield information about the effects of a mechanical tension on hydration of DNA in fibres. At a given relative humidity, the mechanical tension changes the DNA conformation but does not modify the number of water molecules associated to a nucleotide. The number of water molecules per nucleotide necessary to maintain B form decreases for increasing tensions applied to the DNA fibre. Form transitions can be opposed by mechanical tensions; an energy of 1 Kcal per mole of nucleotide pairs is sufficient to prevent the B to A transition.
Harmouchi
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Laboratoire de Biophysique Moléculaire, UA CNRS N. 494, Université de Nancy I, Faculté des Sciences, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France.
Albiser
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G
Premilat
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D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D004247:DNA