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Aggregation and Staining Behaviour of Ultra-violet Irradiated Films of Nucleic Acids

Nature volume 185, pages 33–34 (1960)Cite this article

Abstract

DURING a study of the staining behaviour of ultraviolet irradiated films of deoxyribonucleic acid (deposited by evaporation from aqueous solution on glass slides and exposed to the 2357 A. emission of a 30-watt germicida! lamp), it was found that, upon exposure of an irradiated film to water or salt solution, the deoxyribonucleic acid passes into the aqueous phase as insoluble fibres readily visible to the naked eye. For a film containing 25 µgm. deoxyribonucleic acid spread over an area 10 mm. in diameter, and with an incident intensity of 104 ergs/cm.2/sec., fibre formation is visible following several seconds irradiation. With increasing doses the dimensions of the fibres increase until, after 1–2 hr., they are 7–8 mm. in length and 200µ. in diameter; beyond this point further irradiation results in degradation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, State Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw

    D. SHUGAR & J. BARANOWSKA

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  1. D. SHUGAR
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  2. J. BARANOWSKA
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SHUGAR, D., BARANOWSKA, J. Aggregation and Staining Behaviour of Ultra-violet Irradiated Films of Nucleic Acids. Nature 185, 33–34 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1038/185033a0

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