Biocomplementary Interaction Behavior in DNA-Like and RNA-Like Polymers

A series of nucleobased polymers and copolymers were synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Biocomplementary DNA-and RNA-like supramolecular complexes are formed in dilute DMSO solution through nucleobase recognition. H-1 NMR titration studies of these complexes in CDCl3 indicated that thymine-adenine (T-A) and uracil-adenine (U-A) complexes form rapidly on the NMR time scale with high association constants (up to 534 and 671 M-1, respectively) and result in significant T-g increase. WAXD and differential scanning calorimetry analyzes in the bulk state indicate the presence of highly physical crosslinked structures and provide further details into the nature of the self-assembly of these systems. Furthermore, this study is of discussion on the difference in the hydrogen bond strength between T-A and U-A base pairs within polymer systems, indicating that the strength of hydrogen bonds in RNA U-A pairs is stronger than that in DNA T-A base pairs. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym. Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47:6388-6395, 2009