ISSN:
0006-3525
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
DNA which has been heat denatured in the presence of Cu++ ions can be completely and rapidly renatured by increasing the ionic strength of the solution above a critical value. A kinetic study of this renaturation recation was carried out by following the associated UV absorbance change and also by following the change in free Cu++ ion concentration by means of a specific Cu++ ion activity electrode. The data obtained could be fitted to first-order kinetics for a considerable extent of the reaction and the rate constant was found to increase with temperature and ionic strength, but to decrease markedly as the bulk viscosity of the solution was increased. At temperatures greater than 5°C the reaction rate depended on the time elapsing between denaturation and the commencement of the renaturation reaction. As there was good agreement between the rate constants obtained by following the decrease in hyperchromism and by following the increase in free Cu++ ion concentration, it is concluded that under the conditions employed, the rate of renaturation is determined by the rate of release of Cu++ ions from the denatured DNA-Cu++ complex.
Additional Material:
14 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bip.1972.360110812
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