Degree of polymerization dependent nucleic acid adsorption on cellulose.

Abstract

Experimental data on bichromatic multiple light scattering enhanced absorbance (MLSEA) photometry at 260 and 350 nm of nucleic acid chromophores on dried chromatography paper disks, previously impregnated with RNA solutions are analyzed. The extrapolated X(O) value of the adsorbed chromophore mole fraction X (9, 10) and mainly its slope dX(O)/dlogD in terms of the logarithmic plot of Debye length D (A), are strongly dependent upon the polynucleotide degree of polymerization P, providing a new ultramicroanalytical, rapid and simple parameter for relative P measurements. New experimental evidence is brought for the two-step adsorption model of polyelectrolytes at charged interfaces.