| Abstract: | The adsorption of single-stranded polynucleotides and double-helical DNA on the dropping mercury electrode has been studied with the aid of Breyer's alternating current (a.c.) polarography. Our results indicate that all three constituents of polynucleotides (residues of bases, sugar, and phosphoric acid) are involved in the adsorption. At neutral pH their participation in adsorption depends on the ionic strength, the potential of the electrode, and the conformation of the polynucleotide in the solution. At an ionic strength of about 0.1, double-helical DNA is adsorbed electrostatically on a positively charged electrode surface by inadequately masked negative charges of the phosphate groups. At a higher ionic srength (about 0.5), this electrostatic adsorption is no longer detectable by using a.c. polarography; under these conditions it is probable that native DNA is adsorbed around the potential of the electrocapillary maximum with the aid of sugar residues and a few bases. Single-stranded polynucleotides, on the other hand, are primarily adsorbed by means of the bases. Desorption of double-helical DNA occurs around a potential of ?1.2 V against SCE. At this potential, the helical regions of single-stranded polynucleotides are also desorbed. Desorption of the disordered regions of single-stranded polynucleotides occurs at more negative potentials. Adsorption and desorption of a small number of bases released from double-helical DNA was evident in the a.c. polarograms only at elevated temperature, or at room temperature after degradation of DNA by sonication. |
