Decay of Fluorescence Emission Anisotropy of the Ethidium Bromide-DNA Complex Evidence for an Internal Motion in DNA

Abstract

Evidence for an internal oscillatory Brownian motion in the DNA helix is obtained from the measurement of the decay of the fluorescence emission anisotropy of the ethidium bromide-DNA complex. The amplitude of the oscillation is found to be equal to 35 degrees and the relaxation time equal to 28 nanoseconds.