A sophisticated computer program is developed to analyze flow linear
dichroism data on nucleic acids for individual base inclinations. Measured
absorption and linear dichroism data for synthetic AT and GC polymers and
natural DNAs are analyzed. The reliability of the program is tested on data for
the synthetic polymers, and the results are similar to earlier, more
straightforward analyses. For the first time, specific base inclinations are
derived for all bases individually from the linear dichroism data for natural
deoxyribonucleic acids. For B-form DNA in aqueous solution at moderate salt
concentrations, the inclinations from perpendicular are as follows: d(A)=16.1 ��
0.5; d(T)=25.0 �� 0.9; d(G)=18.0 �� 0.6; d(C)=25.1 �� 0.8 deg. Our results
indicate that the bases in synthetic and natural DNAs are not perpendicular to
the helix axis, even in the B form.
The mathematical bases and numerical analyses are presented in detail
since both are the keys for successful spectral decompositions in this study,
and could be applied to nonlinear optimization problems encountered in other
types of biochemistry and biophysics measurements. The interplay between
computer programming and scientific measurements can not be
overemphasized for modern research. / Graduation date: 1994
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/35399 |
| Date | 03 November 1993 |
| Creators | Chou, Ping-Jung |
| Contributors | Johnson, W. Curtis Jr |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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