On the nature of DNA hyperchromic effect.

TitleOn the nature of DNA hyperchromic effect.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsD’Abramo, Marco, Castellazzi Chiara Lara, Orozco Modesto, and Amadei Andrea
JournalJ Phys Chem B
Volume117
Pagination8697-704
Date Published2013 Jul 25
ISSN1520-5207
KeywordsChromophore-Assisted Light Inactivation, Coloring Agents, DNA, Nucleic Acid Denaturation, Quantum Theory, Spectrophotometry, Temperature, Ultraviolet Rays
Abstract

A combined theoretical-experimental study of the hyperchromic effect as occurring in the denaturation of a double stranded polyA-polyT is presented. Our theoretical/computational procedure allows us to reproduce the essential features of the experimental spectra and to characterize those molecular interactions responsible for the changes in the UV absorbance. We found that although excitonic intrastrand interactions strongly affect the absorbance, they are almost fully maintained in the single-stranded DNA. Our data indicate that hyperchromic effect originates from the higher delocalization of the excitonic states in the denaturated DNA with respect to the double-stranded conformation.

DOI10.1021/jp403369k