FT-IR spectroscopic study of the poly(amino2dA-dT) duplex in Mg(2+)-containing solution and in films

The alternative structures of the synthetic poly(amino2dA-dT) duplex have been studied using infrared spectroscopy in films and in solution (D2O and H2O) in the presence and in the absence of magnesium salt. In solution without magnesium salt, the polynucleotide exists in a B genus conformation with some of the sugar puckers possibly in the C3'-endo/anti geometry. In magnesium-containing solution (66 mM MgCl2), however, we report infrared spectra of Mg(2+)-poly(amino2dA-dT) which have characteristic marker bands of the A form. Film samples in 70% relative humidity (RH) give similar infrared spectra to those of the polynucleotide obtained using Mg2+. Thus, when analyzed in comparison with previously reported infrared spectra of other oligo and polynucleotides, our data show that double helical poly(amino2dA-dT) goes into the same (or very closely related) conformation in dehydrated films as in solutions containing Mg2+.