Glass transition in DNA from molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations of the oligonucleotide duplex d(CGCGCG)(2) in aqueous solution are used to investigate the glass transition phenomenon. The simulations were performed at temperatures in the 20 K to 340 K range. The mean square atomic fluctuations showed that the behavior of the oligonucleotide duplex was harmonic at low temperatures. A glass transition temperature at 223 K to 234 K was inferred for the oligonucleotide duplex, which is in agreement with experimental observations. The largest number of hydrogen bonds between the polar atoms of the oligonucleotide duplex and the water molecules was obtained at the glass transition temperature. With increasing temperature we observed a decrease in the average lifetime of the hydrogen bonds to water molecules.