title: Changes in the zero-point energy of the protons as the source of the binding energy of water to A-phase DNA.
abstract: The measured changes in the zero-point kinetic energy of the protons are entirely responsible for the binding energy of water molecules to A phase DNA at the concentration of 6  water molecules/base pair. The changes in kinetic energy can be expected to be a significant contribution to the energy balance in intracellular biological processes and the properties of nano-confined water. The shape of the momentum distribution in the dehydrated A phase is consistent with coherent delocalization of some of the protons in a double well potential, with a separation of the wells of 0.2 Å.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Senesi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayers
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D044704:DNA, A-Form / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011522:Protons; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D044704:DNA, A-Form; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA