Circular dichroism of adenine and thymine containing synthetic polynucleotides

Circular dichroism (CD) spectra of poly(dA), poly(dT), poly(dA)·poly(dT), and poly[d(A‐T)]·poly[d(T‐A)] have been measured as a function of temperature. From these data difference spectra have been calculated by subtracting the spectrum measured at low temperature from the spectra measured at higher temperatures. The CD difference spectra obtained upon melting of the two double‐stranded polymers are very similar. From a comparison of these difference spectra with calculated ones it is shown that optical transitions near 272 nm (on A) and 288 nm (most probably on T) are present. The premelting changes of the CD spectrum of poly[d(A‐t)]·poly[d(T‐A)] are due to a change in conformation in which the secondary structure goes from a C‐ to B‐type spectrum by increasing the A‐type nature of the polymer. Such a change is not observed for poly(dA)·poly(dT). Instead, a transition between two different B‐type geometries occurs.