ISSN:
0006-3525
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Photon-correlation spectroscopy is a powerful technique for measuring the translational diffusion coefficient of particles and macromolecules in solution. In the study described here, this technique was used to analyze a specific dimerization process involving the association of two tRNA molecules through complementary anticodons. The tRNAs used in the analysis were E. coli tRNA2Glu and yeast tRNAPhe. The experimental data on the concentration dependence of the observed diffusion constants are shown to agree well with theoretical predictions. From these data, the equilibrium constant of the association reaction was determined for dimers formed over a wide range of temperatures and in several different solution conditions. In solutions of 0.1M ionic strength at 22°C, the equilibrium constants vary from 1 × 105M-1 in the absence of magnesium to 1.5 × 106M-1 in 10 mM Mg+2. The enthalpy and entropy changes for dimer formation in the absence and presence, 5 and 10 mM, of magnesium have been obtained from the temperature dependence of the equilibrium constant. The results show that both ΔH and ΔS contribute to the free energy of binding and that their relative contributions are similar for each solution condition evaluated.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bip.1981.360200111
