Chemically reversible electroreduction of guanine in a polynucleotide chain

Biophys Chem. 1986 Aug;24(3):285-90. doi: 10.1016/0301-4622(86)85033-5.

Abstract

It was shown that synthetic polynucleotides containing guanine display in cyclic voltammetry (CV) an anodic peak close to -0.3 V (against a saturated calomel electrode). A condition for the appearance of this peak is the previous polarization of the mercury electrode to sufficiently negative potentials (around -1.8 V). The results of CV measurements with electrode polarization by repeated cycles indicate that in negative potentials there is a reduction of guanine residues and in the anodic process reoxidation of the reduction product to guanine. This chemically reversible process takes place even when a polynucleotide contains adenine and/or cytosine residues in addition to guanine, where reduction leads to the formation of products blocking the electrode surface.

MeSH terms

  • DNA*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Guanine*
  • Polyribonucleotides*
  • Potentiometry

Substances

  • Polyribonucleotides
  • Guanine
  • DNA