NMR Spectroscopic Study of a DNA Duplex with Mercury-Mediated T-T Base Pairs

Abstract

Recently, we reported that T-T mismatches can specifically recognize Hg ^II (T-Hg ^II -T pair formation). In order to understand the properties of the T-Hg ^II -T pair, we recorded NMR spectra for a DNA duplex, d(CGCG TT GTCC) • d(GGAC TT CGCG), with two successive T-T mismatches (Hg ^II -binding sites). We assigned ¹ H resonances for mercury-free and di-mercurated duplexes, and performed titration experiments with Hg ^II by using 1D ¹ H NMR spectra. Because of the above mentioned assignments, we could confirm the existence of mono-mercurated species, because individual components gave independent NMR signals in the titration spectra.