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Forces maintaining the DNA double helix.

Peter L Privalov1, Colyn Crane-Robinson2

  • 1Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.

European Biophysics Journal : EBJ
|May 29, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Direct calorimetric measurements reveal that DNA base pairing is primarily entropy-driven, contrary to common belief. The enthalpic and entropic contributions of AT and CG base pairs are temperature-dependent, with AT pairs exhibiting greater contributions due to released water molecules.

Keywords:
Base pair stackingDNAHydrationHydrogen bondingStability

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Commonly accepted that DNA duplex unfolding enthalpy is temperature-independent.
  • Belief that CG base pairs have higher enthalpy than AT base pairs due to three hydrogen bonds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly measure the enthalpic and entropic contributions of DNA base pairs.
  • To investigate the temperature dependence of these contributions.
  • To elucidate the driving forces behind DNA duplex stabilization.

Main Methods:

  • Direct calorimetric measurements of DNA duplex unfolding/refolding.
  • Analysis of experimental thermodynamic characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Enthalpic and entropic contributions of both AT and CG base pairs are temperature-dependent.
  • AT base pairs show greater enthalpic and entropic contributions than CG pairs at all temperatures.
  • DNA base pairing is predominantly entropy-driven, coupled with enthalpy-driven base pair stacking.
  • The enthalpy of base pairing is negligible; total heat of melting arises from stacked base pair dissociation.

Conclusions:

  • Revises the understanding of DNA duplex stability thermodynamics.
  • Highlights the crucial role of water hydration and base pair stacking in DNA stability.
  • Emphasizes the cooperative interplay between base pairing and base stacking.