Synthetic immobilized polynucleotide-based ion exchangers: polyriboadenylic and polyribouridylic acids in polyacrylamide gel

• Published in: Reactive polymers, ion exchangers, sorbents ion exchangers, sorbents, 1986-11, Vol.4 (4), p.269-276
• Main Authors: Vorontsova, O.V., Korolev, N.I., Kuznetsov, I.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Tubes
• ISSN: 0167-6989; 1878-3201
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-6989(86)90027-9

This paper demonstrates that possibility of obtaining synthetic polynucleotide-based ion exchangers by immobilization of polyriboadenylic acid—poly(A)—and polyribouridylic acid—poly(U)—in polyacrylamide gel (PAAG). It has been found that about 20% of poly(A) and about 40% of poly(U) binds to the matrix. The small degree of immobilization, compared with DNA (more than 90% of which can be immobilized by the same technique), is due to the low molecular weights of the synthetic polynucleotides poly(A) and poly(U). With regard to poly(A) selectivity, alkali metal ions have been arranged in the following series: Li + > NH 4 + > Cs + ≈ Rb + ≈ K + ≈ Na +. An unusual behaviour of Li + ions in interactions with poly(A) has been observed: these ions decrease the exchange capacity(A) have been found to be equal to 1.0 and 2.1, respectively. These values together with the earlier obtained values of α Ca 2+ Cu 2+ (≈7.5–8.0) for denturated DNA, confirm that neither adenine nor thymine can be site for strongest binding of Cu 2+ to DNA.