Abstract
Two kinds of theories for the circular dichroism of nucleic acids are currently in use: a fundamental theory derived from quantum mechanics, and a phenomenological theory based on classical electrodynamics. The quantum approach is preferable from a strict theoretical point of view, but is hard to implement in real calculations on molecules as large and complex as the nucleic acids. The classical theory is easier to implement, but has less theoretical justification. It turns out that with the approximations needed to make the quantum theory tractable, the two approaches are almost equivalent.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bayley, P. M., Nielsen, E. B., and Schellman, J. A., 1969, The rotatory properties of molecules containing two peptide groups: Theory, J. Phys. Chem. 73: 228–242.
Cantor, C., and Schimmel, P., 1980, Biophysical Chemistry Part II: Techniques for the Study of Biological Structure and Function, pp. 418–425, Freeman, San Francisco.
Cech, C. L., and Tinoco, I., 1977, Circular dichroism calculations for double-stranded polynucleotides of repeating sequence, Biopolymers 16: 43–65.
Cech, C. L., Hug, W., and Tinoco, I., 1976, Polynucleotide circular dichroism calculations: Use of an all-order classical coupled oscillator polarizability theory, Biopolymers 15: 131–152.
DeVoe, H., 1964, Optical properties of molecular aggregates. I. Classical model of electronic absorption and refraction, J. Chem. Phys. 41: 393–400.
DeVoe, H., 1965, Optical properties of molecular aggregates. II. Classical theory of the refraction, absorption, and optical activity of solutions and crystals, J. Chem. Phys. 43: 3199–3208.
Hansen, A., and Bouman, T., 1980, Natural chiroptical spectroscopy: Theory and computations, Adv. Chem. Phys. 44: 545–643.
Johnson, W. C., and Tinoco, I., 1969, Circular dichroism of polynucleotides: A simple theory, Biopolymers 1: 727–749.
Keller, D., and Bustamante, C., 1986a, Theory of the interaction of light with large inhomogeneous molecular aggregates I: Absorption, J. Chem. Phys. 84: 2961–2971.
Keller, D., and Bustamante, C., 19866, Theory of the interaction of light with large inhomogeneous molecular aggregates II: Psi-type circular dichroism, J. Chem. Phys. 84: 2972–2980.
Kim, M.-H., Ulibarri, L., Keller, D., Maestre, M. F., and Bustamante, C., 1986, The Psi-type circular dichroism of large molecular aggregates III: Calculations, J. Chem. Phys. 84: 2981–2989.
Levin, A. I., and Tinoco, I., 1977, Classical theory of circular dichroism in infinite helical polymers, J. Chem. Phys. 66: 3491–3497.
Madison, V., and Schellman, J., 1972, Optical activity of polypeptides and proteins, Biopolymers 11. 1041–1076.
Moffitt, W., 1956, Optical rotatory dispersion of helical polymers, J. Chem. Phys. 25: 467–478.
Moffitt, W., and Moscowitz, A., 1959, Optical activity in absorbing media, J. Chem. Phys. 30: 648–660.
Richterich, P., and Pohl, F., 1987, Calculation of the CD of oligo (dG-dC): Influence of basic optical parameters, Biopolymers 26: 321–350.
Rizzo, V., and Schellman, J. A., 1984, Matrix-method calculation of linear and circular dichroism spectra of nucleic acids and polynucleotides, Biopolymers 23: 435–470.
Rosenfeld, L., 1928, Quantenmechanische Theorie der Natürlichen Optischen Aktivität von Flussigkeiten and Gasen, Z. Phys. 52: 161–174.
Schellman, J. A., 1975, Circular dichroism and optical rotation, Chem. Rev. 75: 323–331.
Tinoco, I., 1962, Theoretical aspects of optical activity. Part Two: Polymers, Adv. Chem. Phys. 4: 113–160.
Woody, R. W., and Tinoco, I., 1967, Optical rotation of oriented helices. III. Calculation of the rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism of the alpha-and 310-helix, J. Chem. Phys. 46: 4927–4945.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Keller, D. (1996). Theories of Circular Dichroism for Nucleic Acids. In: Fasman, G.D. (eds) Circular Dichroism and the Conformational Analysis of Biomolecules. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2508-7_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2508-7_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-3249-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-2508-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive