Can we break the hydrogen bonds in DNA with Phonon?

[Anand Wilson]

Double stranded DNA are bind with hydrogen bonds in between the nitrogenous bases, Usually we use high temperature for denature,so can we break the hydrogen bonds with phonon because shorter wavelength give rise to heat, weather it is possible to denature the DNA?

 

[Ygggdrasil]

If you say, use microwaves to heat the water, I suppose you could indirectly use photons to denature DNA. Shorter wavelengths will usually induce DNA damage. For example, UV radiation can change the identity of some of the bases by creating pyrimidine dimers or oxidizing bases. Ionizing radiation, like x-rays or gamma radiation, is capable of causing breaks in the DNA backbone. For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_repair#DNA_damage

 

[DiracPool]

Are we talking about photons or phonons? I think Anand and Ygggdrasil are on two different wavelengths here (pardon the pun ).

 

[Ygggdrasil]

Ah, ok. I misread the question. Researchers often use sonication to mechanically fragment DNA into smaller pieces, so you might start breaking the DNA backbone before separating the DNA strands.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Double stranded DNA are bind with hydrogen bonds in between the nitrogenous bases, Usually we use high temperature for denature,so can we break the hydrogen bonds with phonon because shorter wavelength give rise to heat, weather it is possible to denature the DNA?

Sure- a single strand break requires (IIRC) about 3 eV, while a double-strand break requires (again, IIRC) 25 eV.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12683817
http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596/373/1/012008/pdf/1742-6596_373_1_012008.pdf

From there, you can work out the required sound pressure levels.

 

[Anand Wilson]

Sound pressure??, with high wave length! we can use sound! what about the short wave length if we need heat?

 

[Andy Resnick]

Sound pressure??, with high wave length! we can use sound! what about the short wave length if we need heat?

I think you need to read up on some basics- you seem to be mixing up a bunch of concepts.