Insight into the denaturation transition of DNA.
DNA undergoes a helix-to-coil transition (also called denaturation transition) upon heating. This transition can also be facilitated by using solvent mixtures (for example water-alcohol). An increase in the hydrophobic tail of the second solvent molecule first decreases then increases the melting temperature appreciably. Measurement on 4% DNA in a series of water-alcohol mixtures shows that the helix-to-coil melting transition is driven by the solvent ability to cross the hydrophobic sugar-rich region. DNA is behaving like a cylindrical micelle.
Hammouda
Boualem
B
Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-6102, United States. hammouda@nist.gov
D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008823:Micelles; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012997:Solvents; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D000438:Alcohols; D008823:Micelles; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA