The interaction of water with DNA - a combined Inelastic Neutron Scattering and infrared spectroscopic study

Interaction of water with DNA was studied by combining inelastic neutron scattering experiments at Rutherford Laboratory and infrared spectroscopic measurements. Spectra of water interacting with DNA measured on TOSCA at low hydrations resemble the spectrum of high density amorphous ice shifting gradually towards ice Ih with increasing water content. The same holds for spectra in the high energy transfer region observed on HET where bands due the Off stretchings of adsorbed water appear. Infrared spectra of hydrated DNA measured at room temperature in the OH stretchings region consist of two components of which the low frequency one does not shift significantly with increasing hydration. The high frequency component shifts to higher wavenumbers and its intensity rises significantly with increasing hydration. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.