Insight into the denaturation transition of DNA

DNA undergoes a helix-to-coil transition (also called denaturation transition) upon heating This transition can also be facilitated by using solvent mixtures (for example water-alcohol) An increase in the hydrophobic tail of the second solvent molecule first decreases then increases the melting temperature appreciably. Measurement on 4% DNA in a series of water-alcohol mixtures shows that the helix-to-coil melting transition is driven by the solvent ability to cross the hydrophobic sugar-rich region DNA is behaving like a cylindrical micelle. Published by Elsevier B.V.