The Properties of Structurally Homogeneous Poly(l-vinyluracils) and Their Interactions with Polynucleotides

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Abstract
It has been found that highly syndlotactic PVU has a greater hypochromism and fluorescence emission Intensity along with a different dimethyl sulfoxide denaturation profile than the less syndlotactic polymer in aqueous solutions. These results are probably attributable to an interrelation between the configurational arrangement of uracils, the conformation of the polymers, and base stacking between uracils. In the neutral pH range, before the onset of aggregation and precipitation, the polymers are thought to be in tightly packed coillike conformations which are stabilized by intramolecular base stacking forces. The reaction of highly syndlotactic PVU with Poly A was thought to form a triple stranded PVU:2 Poly A complex, while the less syndlotactic polymer formed a metastable double stranded 33.3% Poly A complex which on equilibration rearranged into a 25% Poly A complex probably containing PVU loops. In the presence of 20% DMSO this system formed a 13% Poly A complex indicative of partial denaturation of the base pairs with DMSO. PVU was also