Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Direct proton exchange between complementary nucleic acid bases

Nature volume 271, pages 277–278 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

SPECIFIC interaction between complementary nucleic acid bases, in which adenine forms strong hydrogen bonds specifically with thymine (uracil) and guanine with cytosine, is believed to be the molecular basis for the transfer of genetic information. Infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance have shown that such specific interaction is intrinsic to nucleic acid bases1–5. In spite of much knowledge about the static structure of the interaction6–9, little is known about the dynamic property of the base pairs. We report here quantitative evidence of direct proton exchange between complementary nucleic acid base derivatives.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hamlin, R. M., Lord, R. C. & Rich, A. Science 148, 1734–1737 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kyogoku, Y., Lord, R. C. & Rich, A. Science 154, 518–520 (1966).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kyogoku, Y., Lord, R. C. & Rich, A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 57, 250–257 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shoup, R. R., Miles, H. T. & Becker, E. D. Biochim. biophys. Acta 23, 194–201 (1966).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Katz, L. & Penman, S. J. molec. Biol. 15, 220–231 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hoogsteen, K. Acta. crystallogr. 12, 822–824 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Katz, L., Tomita, K. & Rich, A., J. molec. Biol. 13, 340–350 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. O'Brien, E. J. J. molec. Biol. 7, 107–110 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sobell, H. M., Tomita, K. & Rich, A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 49, 885–892 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Forsén, S. & Hoffman, R. A. J. chem. Phys. 39, 2892–2901 (1963).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Forsén, S. & Hoffman, R. A. J. chem. Phys. 40, 1189–1196 (1964).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Katritsky, A. R. & Waring, A. J. J. chem. Soc. 38, 1540–1544 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kyogoku, Y., Tsuboi, M., Shimanouchi, T. & Watanabe, I. Nature 189, 120–122 (1961).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Topal, M. D. & Fresco, J. R. Nature 263, 285–293 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565, Japan

    HIDEO IWAHASHI & YOSHIMASA KYOGOKU

Authors
  1. HIDEO IWAHASHI
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. YOSHIMASA KYOGOKU
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

IWAHASHI, H., KYOGOKU, Y. Direct proton exchange between complementary nucleic acid bases. Nature 271, 277–278 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271277a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/271277a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing