N1···N3 Hydrogen Bonds of A:U Base Pairs of RNA Are Stronger than Those of A:T Base Pairs of DNA

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J. Am. Chem. Soc., 126 (18), 5688 -5689, 2004. 10.1021/ja048981t S0002-7863(04)08981-4
Web Release Date: April 21, 2004

N1···N3 Hydrogen Bonds of A:U Base Pairs of RNA Are Stronger than Those of A:T Base Pairs of DNA

Ioannis Vakonakis and Andy C. LiWang*

Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2128

andy-liwang@tamu.edu

Received February 23, 2004

Abstract:

Trans-hydrogen-bond deuterium isotope effects of Watson-Crick A:U and A:T base pairs of 10 homologous RNA and DNA duplexes are compared. The isotope effect at ¹³C2 of adenosine residues due to deuterium/protium substitution at the imino H3 site, ^2h¹³C2, is larger in RNA than in DNA. The virtually consistent larger isotope effects in RNA suggest that the N1···N3 hydrogen bonds of A:U base pairs of RNA are stronger than those of the A:T base pairs of DNA.

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