Raman spectral analysis of wet-spun films of CaDNA with varying amounts of CaCl$_{2}$ as a function of relative humidity

POSTER

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy has been used to probe the amount of DNA in the B conformation in wet-spun films of CaDNA which contain varying amounts of CaCl$_{2}$ as a function of relative humidity. This determination is made by measuring the relative intensity of the B-form marker band at about 834 cm$^{-1}$. Our experiments show that CaDNA is in the B conformation from 98{\%} relative humidity (rh) down to 75{\%} and is disordered at lower humidities. Interestingly, a maximum in the relative amount of B-DNA is observed near 80{\%} rh.

Authors

  • M. Schwenker Smith

    University of Toledo

  • Scott Lee

    University of Toledo

  • J.A. Summers

    Duke University Medical Physics Graduate Program, Southwest Research Institute, Kettering University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Wayne State University, University of Nebraska, University of Stockholm, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, Cornell Univ., Air Force Research Labs, Univ. Akron, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), Youngstown State U, Dept. Physics, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Detroit, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Hyderabad, India, NIST Center for Neutron Research, NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Michigan State University