[Thermodynamic characteristics of nucleic acid complexes with silver ions]

By means of mixing reaction calorimetry the enthalpy of the complexes formation between Ag+ ions and DNA and dsRNA was measured. It was shown that Ag+ ions are able to form two types of complexes (I and II) with dsRNA. Using the method of the competitive reaction with chloride ions the stability constants of complex formation were obtained for dsRNA-Ag+ complexes for different temperatures. These measurements gave the delta H and delta S values for both complexes: delta HI = -74,9 +/- 7,1 kjouls/mol, delta SI = -100.0 +/- 25.0 jouls/mol deg; delta HII = -39,8 +/- 4,2 kjouls/mol, delta SII = +2 +/- 14 jouls/mol deg. The calorimetric results of delta H determination are the same within the limits of experimental errors. The enthalpy term of dsRNA-Ag+ complexes proved to bring the main contribution into the free energy of complex formation.