Thermodynamic origin of the linear pressure dependence of DNA thermal stability

Lah, Jurij (author), Hadži, San (author)

High pressure affects the structure and function of DNA and is a key parameter for studying the origin and physical limits of life. Different types of DNA structures systematically show a linear pressure dependence of thermal stability (up to ∼200 MPa), which is maintained even when the solution composition is changed. The reasons behind the linear pressure dependence are not understood. We have performed a thermodynamic analysis of the pressure-, temperature- and composition-dependent (un)folding of various polynucleotide duplexes and G-quadruplexes. We demonstrate that the reason for the observed linearity is the link between compressibility and expansibility, both of which largely depend on DNA hydration. We predicted the temperature and pressure dependence of compressibility and expansibility of (un)folding and explain how they affect the corresponding volume change and thermodynamic stability parameters. These predictions indicate the existence of a convergence temperature at which compressibility and volume of (un)folding simultaneously become equal to zero.

• Language: English
• Keywords: biomolecules, DNA, G-quadruplex, stability, pressure, volume, compressibility, expansibility, biopolymers, genetics, hydration
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 9064-9069
• Numbering: Vol. 15, iss. 35
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-161265-99fd15cd-a9db-9717-942c-1979723a1e93
• UDC: 577.323
• ISSN on article: 1948-7185
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01563
• COBISS.SI-ID: 205693699
• Publication date in RUL: 09.09.2024

LAH, Jurij and HADŽI, San, 2024, Thermodynamic origin of the linear pressure dependence of DNA thermal stability. The journal of physical chemistry letters [online]. 2024. Vol. 15, no. 35, p. 9064–9069. [Accessed 14 April 2025]. DOI 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01563. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=161265

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: The journal of physical chemistry letters
• Shortened title: J. phys. chem. lett.
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 1948-7185
• COBISS.SI-ID: 516049689

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: biomolekule, DNA, G-kvadrupleks, stabilnost, tlak, volumen, stisljivost, razteznost

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P1-0201
• Name: Fizikalna kemija

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: J1-50026
• Name: Vloga novega sekvenčnega motiva, bogatega z alanini, pri kondenzaciji RNA-vezavnih proteinov