SPECTROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF POLYETHYLENIMINE BACKBONE POLYNUCLEOTIDE MODELS

The UV absorptions of nucleic acid analogs with a polyethylenimine (PEI) backbone and uracil-and thymine-containing pendants have been examined. For the solvents used (water, basic aqueous solutions, and DMSO), significant hypochromicity is observed. The uracil-containing polymers have been shown to interact with polyA in an aqueous solvent at pH 7 (tris buffer). The interaction is proportional to the size of the polymer. A correlation is attempted between the properties of the analogs and their biological activity.