title: Mercury-induced transitions between right-handed and putative left-handed forms of poly[d(A-T).d(A-T)] and poly[d(G-C).d(G-C)].
abstract: Poly[d(A-T).d(A-T)] and poly[d(G-C).d(G-C)], each dissolved in 0.1 M NaClO4, 5 mM cacodylic acid buffer, pH 6.8, experience inversion of their circular dichroism (CD) spectrum subsequent to the addition of Hg(ClO4)2. Let r identical to [Hg(ClO4)2]added/[DNA-P]. The spectrum of the right-handed form of poly[d(A-T).d(A-T)] turns into that of a seemingly left-handed structure at r greater than or equal to 0.05 while a similar transition is noted with poly[d(G-C).(G-C)] at r greater than or equal to 0.12. The spectral changes are highly cooperative in the long-wavelength region above 250 nm. At r = 1.0, the spectra of the two polymers are more or less mirror images of their CD at r = 0. While most CD bands experience red-shifts upon the addition of Hg(ClO4)2, there are some that are blue-shifted. The CD changes are totally reversible when Hg(II) is removed from the nucleic acids by the addition of a strong complexing agent such as NaCN. This demonstrates that mercury keeps all base pairs in register.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis 95616.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Gruenwedel
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Cruikshank
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D008628:Mercury; D017669:Mercury Compounds; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010472:Perchlorates; D011067:Poly dA-dT; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides
chemical_list: D017669:Mercury Compounds; D010472:Perchlorates; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides; D011067:Poly dA-dT; C019530:poly(dC-dG); C054683:mercuric perchlorate; D008628:Mercury