Single Crystals of Poly(phenyl glycidyl ether)

Abstract

The Watson-Crick model for DNA has been modified to account for observed physical phenomena associated with DNA. The viscosity data obtained on both partially denatured DNA and on undenatured DNA in various aqueous salt solutions give rise to acidic-type cationic sequences. These results can only be explained if there exist additional bonds other than the hydrogen bonds between base pairs. Considering the experimental data, the only possible type of bond that could exist is an ionic bond between the negatively charged phosphate group and the polar or positively charged nitrogen atom attached to the C'-1 position of the deoxyribose unit. The formation of such an ionic bond produces a natural twist in the DNA strand. The model is also applicable to RNA, although steric factors affect the stability and structure of such an RNA. Values of ΔH for the formation of the DNA and RNA double helix substantiate the proposed models. The most plausible structure for the double-stranded DNA helix is a model where the base pairs are on the surface rather than on the interior of the helix. Hydrophobic bonds do not exist except possibly in the altered structure produced during preparation of the DNA for X-ray analyses. The viscosity results on undenatured DNA in various salt solutions are caused by two factors: a destruction of the ionic bond and a reversal of charge effect on the DNA. The results show that the charge on DNA must change from a negative to a positive charge with addition of salt. The proposed model is applied to replication of DNA and formation of RNA from DNA and associated phenomena.