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. 1974 Aug;1(8):959–978. doi: 10.1093/nar/1.8.959

The thermal denaturation of DNA: average length and composition of denatured areas

Anthony P Russell *,1, David S Holleman *,1
PMCID: PMC343404  PMID: 10793728

Abstract

A spectral study of melting curves of DNA ranging from 73 to 32% AT indicates that the base ratio of sequences melting within DNA are a linear function of temperature. A study of partially denatured DNA by electron microscopy, reversible renaturation and fractionation on hydroxylapatite suggests that the melting curve of DNA represents the melting of sequences which average 3-4 million daltons in length. These sequences appear to be a combination of two areas, one which is high in AT and denatures in the first three-quarters of the melting curve, and one which is high in GC and denatures in the final quarter. The length of these sequences appears to vary between 1.5-6 million daltons.

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Selected References

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