[Compact particles of double-stranded polyribonucleotides. I. Conditions for the formation of optically active...

The conditions (mol. weight of PEG, ionic strength) of formation of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) compact particles in water-salt solutions, containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have been determined. It has been shown, that in solutions of mild ionic strength (approximately 0,3) the compact particles of dsRNA are characterized by an intense positive CD-band (lambda 270 nm), but in solutions of high ionic strength (1,0-1,5)--by intense positive or negative CD-bands (lambda 270 nm). The heating of the solutions of a high ionic strength, containing the compact particles with negative CD-bands is accompanied by the change of sign of CD-band. The same effect is observed in the case of decrease of the ionic strength of the solutions. "Melting" of compact particles as revealed by the CD-method occurs prior to the melting of the secondary structure of dsRNA. These data show, that the intense CD-bands reflect the ordered arrangement of the chromophores of polynucleotide chain in compact particles. The reasons of change of the sign of the CD-bands are discussed.