An Optical Rotation Temperature Jump Apparatus for Helix-Coil Transition of Biopolymers

Abstract
A temperature jump apparatus to observe optical rotation changes and thus investigate the conformational change of biopolymers has been proposed. Heating is achieved with an electrical pulse using a coaxial cable as the capacitor, and temperature rise time is shorter than 0.5 μsec The maximum sensitivity of the apparatus is 0.001deg; of rotation per cm of oscilloscope screen. Relaxation associated with the helix-coil transition of poly-α, L-glutamlc acid has been observed. The pH and degree of polymerization dependencies of the relaxation time have also seen examined.