Individual basepair stability of DNA and RNA studied by NMR-detected solvent exchange.

ABSTRACT: In this study, we have optimized NMR methodology to determine the thermodynamic parameters of basepair opening in DNA and RNA duplexes by characterizing the temperature dependence of imino proton exchange rates of individual basepairs. Contributions of the nuclear Overhauser effect to exchange rates measured with inversion recovery experiments are quantified, and the influence of intrinsic and external catalysis exchange mechanisms on the imino proton exchange rates is analyzed. Basepairs in DNA and RNA have an approximately equal stability, and the enthalpy and entropy values of their basepair dissociation are correlated linearly. Furthermore, the compensation temperature, T(c), which is derived from the slope of the correlation, coincides with the melting temperature, and duplex unfoldin

SUBMITTER: Steinert HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3368144 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature