[Study of the hydratation of the double-helical poly A-poly U complex by IR-spectroscopy and piezogravimetry methods]

IR-spectra of a double-helical poly A-poly U complex and coiled poly U were studied at various r.h. in a 900-3800 cm-1 region. By the method of piezomicrobalance hydration isotherms for these polynucleotides were obtained. It is concluded that, as in the DNA case, simultaneous hydration of nucleic bases the backbone of polynucleotides occurs at lower r.h., and that the poly A-poly U hydration level is higher than poly A and poly U ones separately. Drastic changes in spectral parameters of poly A poly U uracil and adenine in-ring and out-of-ring absorption bands observed in 44-76% r.h. region were interpreted as a transition to helical conformation of the complex. Calculation of resonance frequencies for these normal vibrations in the dipole-dipole approximation agrees with the experimental data.