Effects of Water-Miscible Organic Solvents on Thermal Stability of DNA Oligonucleotides
Poster Number
52
Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Artist Statement
A water-miscible organic solvent is commonly used to obtain homogenous solutions in studying the interaction between DNA and ligands that have poor water solubility. The amount of an organic solvent used is empirically kept to a minimum because the organic solvent can destabilize DNA by disrupting hydrogen bonds. However, guidance on what percentage of organic solvent is safe to use without affecting DNA stability is lacking in the literature. This study surveys the effect of five common organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, DMSO, DMF, and acetonitrile) on the thermal stability of duplex DNA oligonucleotides using UV denaturation. The thermodynamic parameters are derived from DNA melting curves. Our results reveal that the rank in order of increasing destabilization effects on DNA oligonucleotides is methanol < ethanol < DMSO < DMF < acetonitrile. Circular dichroism studies suggest the DNA conformation remains unchanged under the experimental conditions..
Location
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom B
Start Date
1-5-2010 1:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2010 3:00 PM
Effects of Water-Miscible Organic Solvents on Thermal Stability of DNA Oligonucleotides
DeRosa University Center, Ballroom B
A water-miscible organic solvent is commonly used to obtain homogenous solutions in studying the interaction between DNA and ligands that have poor water solubility. The amount of an organic solvent used is empirically kept to a minimum because the organic solvent can destabilize DNA by disrupting hydrogen bonds. However, guidance on what percentage of organic solvent is safe to use without affecting DNA stability is lacking in the literature. This study surveys the effect of five common organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, DMSO, DMF, and acetonitrile) on the thermal stability of duplex DNA oligonucleotides using UV denaturation. The thermodynamic parameters are derived from DNA melting curves. Our results reveal that the rank in order of increasing destabilization effects on DNA oligonucleotides is methanol < ethanol < DMSO < DMF < acetonitrile. Circular dichroism studies suggest the DNA conformation remains unchanged under the experimental conditions..