Characterization of nucleic acids by bichromatic paper disk spectrophotometry

The bichromatic paper disk spectrophotometry ultramicromethod developed in the "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology can be successfully applied to the study of viral and cellular nucleic acids. The main applications - succinctly presented in the review - refer to : the identification and spectral characterization of nucleic acids, their quantitative determination, the study of the helix - statistical coil transition, the evaluation of the degree of polymerization of single stranded polynucleotides, the study of the kinetics of chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis and the determination of RNase activity, e.g. in human serum, the demonstration of the interaction between nucleic acids and other molecules of biological interest (biopolymers, poly- and oligocations, etc.), the rapid characterization of the ion exchange capacity of chromatography papers and of a mobile phase of the water - alcohol - electrolyte type.