title: The stability of the B conformation in wet-spun films of CaDNA: a raman study as a function of water content.
abstract: Raman spectra from 600 to 1150 cm(-1) have been collected from wet-spun films of highly oriented CaDNA as a function of relative humidity (rh). Particular attention was paid to the Raman modes at 834 and 807 cm(-1); the presence of these modes indicates that the DNA backbone is in the B or A conformations. Though the B conformation is usually found only under conditions of high hydration in such wet-spun films, CaDNA is found to remain in the B conformation down to 75% rh. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that intermolecular bonds in ordered samples of DNA are critical for the stabilization of the A conformation of DNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA.
authors.forename: M Schwenker
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006813:Humidity; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D004247:DNA