The influence of temperature variations and pressure treatment on proteins and DNA in the solid state

✍ Scribed by V. Rossiter

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1974
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1010 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0006-3525
• DOI: 10.1002/bip.1974.360130918

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Low‐frequency dielectric measurements have been made in the temperature range from −180°C to +110°C on DNA and a number of proteins in the solid state. The results suggest that a molecular rearrangement may occur in the temperature interval +60°C to +80°C. In terms of these measurements the transition appears to be reversible in DNA if the material remains at +20°C for longer than 60 hr. Such a time‐dependent recovery has not been observed for proteins. The application of a pressure of ∼150 MN m^−2^ for a 3‐min. period appears to be capable of reversing the thermal transition in at least some of the proteins studied. These results are compared with the results available from studies of the influence of temperature and pressure variations on similar biological materials in aqueous solutions.