Abstract
Photon‐correlation spectroscopy is a powerful technique for measuring the translational diffusion coefficient of particles and macromolecules in solution. In the study described here, this technique was used to analyze a specific dimerization process involving the association of two tRNA molecules through complementary anticodons. The tRNAs used in the analysis were E. coli tRNA and yeast tRNA^Phe^. The experimental data on the concentration dependence of the observed diffusion constants are shown to agree well with theoretical predictions. From these data, the equilibrium constant of the association reaction was determined for dimers formed over a wide range of temperatures and in several different solution conditions. In solutions of 0.1__M__ ionic strength at 22°C, the equilibrium constants vary from 1 × 10^5^M^−1^ in the absence of magnesium to 1.5 × 10^6^M^−1^ in 10 m__M__ Mg^+2^. The enthalpy and entropy changes for dimer formation in the absence and presence, 5 and 10 m__M__, of magnesium have been obtained from the temperature dependence of the equilibrium constant. The results show that both Δ__H__ and Δ__S__ contribute to the free energy of binding and that their relative contributions are similar for each solution condition evaluated.