Proton magnetic resonance study of the binding of purine to polyuridylic acid

Abstract

Abstract The interaction of unsubstituted purine with polyuridylic acid in D 2 O solution at neutral pD has been studied by high resolution proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The poly U proton resonances were shifted to higher fields by the added purine, indicating that purine binds to the uracil bases of the polymer by base stacking. Severe broadening of the purine proton resonances was also observed, providing strong evidence for the intercalation of purine between adjacent uracil bases of the polymer. The line widths of the poly U proton resonances were not noticeably broadened in the presence of purine; thus, the binding of purine to poly U does not result in a more rigid or ordered structure for the polymer.