Thermal melting experiments were performed using salmon sperm DNA and metal cations in buffered solution over a temperature range from 10-90 degrees Celsius. The DNA melting temperature (Tm ) was determined for DNA in the presence and absence of several metal cations (Fe3+, Co2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Au3+, Ni2+, Ru2+, Mn2+, and U6+) from pH 7.2-8.0 by measuring the absorbance of each solution at 260/280 nm as a function of temperature. Our results demonstrate enhanced thermal stability of salmon sperm DNA in the presence of some of these metal cations, and strand breakage and resulting thermal instability of salmon sperm DNA in the presence of U6+.

Investigating the thermal stability of DNA in the presence of metal cations by measuring DNA melting temperatures

251st National Meeting (2016)

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