Characterizing the strength of individual hydrogen bonds in DNA base pairs

The energies of individual hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) in A-T and G-C Watson-Crick base pairs were calculated according to the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of intermolecular interactions. The extent to which individual H-bonds are helpful in holding the two base pairs together was previously investigated quantitatively by a few different approaches, and the results of the present and previous estimations were compared. The method was validated by the determination of the H-bond strength changes in A-T and G-C pairs upon the substitution of the monomer (base) by two cationic substituents; the systems for which the changes were previously anticipated based on the modifications of the H-bonds' distances.