A major goal is to better understand the molecular dynamics of the single polynucleotide chain of DNA interspersed between helical boundaries; an understanding of which is essential to the development of suitable structural models for intermediates during replication and transcription, two biological processes that require DNA adopt local structures that differ from the familial helical forms. The conformational transitions of pBR322 DNA, a small, well characterized specimen suited to large scale preparation, will be studied and analyzed by high resolution melting techniques. Thermal dispersion profiles of this DNA will be produced by the absorbance difference-approximation method, and subjected to several forms of thermodynamic analysis. The objective will be to establish a complete and unambiquous denaturation map of pBR322 DNA, and a number of fragments, recombinants, close descendents and mutant forms in order to confirm details of the map and to quantitate the parameters of a statistical mechanical analysis. Such information is needed to calculate the state of each residue pair in DNAs of known sequence over wide ranges of temperature. A direct approach to the analysis of melting curves will also be undertaken to establish the efficacy of such an approach to DNAs of unknown sequence and to provide independent confirmation of values for stability and loop parameters. Another goal focuses on the question of how the local aqueous milleu and cospheres of condensed cations affect the stability of nucleic acid helixes. The change in free energy associated with the transfer of thermally induced helix order yield disorder transitions from one solvent cation to another will be investigated with an array of different helixes together in solution to establish a sensitivity to differences as small as 3 cal/mol.bp. The free energy change associated with the solvent isotope effect upon the transfer of transitions from H2O to D2O containing the different monovalent cations will also be examined.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01GM022827-07A1
Application #
3271363
Study Section
Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry A Study Section (BBCA)
Project Start
1976-04-01
Project End
1988-03-31
Budget Start
1985-04-01
Budget End
1986-03-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maine
Department
Type
Earth Sciences/Resources
DUNS #
City
Orono
State
ME
Country
United States
Zip Code
Qureshi, S A; Blake, R D (1995) Sequence characteristics of a cervid DNA repeat family. J Mol Evol 40:400-4
Marx, K A; Hess, S T; Blake, R D (1994) Alignment of (dA).(dT) homopolymer tracts in gene flanking sequences suggests nucleosomal periodicity in D. discoideum DNA. J Biomol Struct Dyn 12:235-46
Hess, S T; Blake, J D; Blake, R D (1994) Wide variations in neighbor-dependent substitution rates. J Mol Biol 236:1022-33
Marx, K A; Hess, S T; Blake, R D (1993) Characteristics of the large (dA).(dT) homopolymer tracts in D. discoideum gene flanking and intron sequences. J Biomol Struct Dyn 11:57-66
Blake, R D; Hess, S T; Nicholson-Tuell, J (1992) The influence of nearest neighbors on the rate and pattern of spontaneous point mutations. J Mol Evol 34:189-200
Delcourt, S G; Blake, R D (1991) Stacking energies in DNA. J Biol Chem 266:15160-9
Blake, R D; Delcourt, S G (1990) Electrostatic forces at helix-coil boundaries in DNA. Biopolymers 29:393-405
Blake, R D; Delcourt, S G (1988) Elasticity of DNA in nonhelical loops. Biochem Pharmacol 37:1843-4
Blake, R D; Delcourt, S G (1987) Loop energy in DNA. Biopolymers 26:2009-26
Blake, R D (1987) Cooperative lengths of DNA during melting. Biopolymers 26:1063-74

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