Nucleic Acid Denaturation

**Definition:** Disruption of the secondary structure of nucleic acids by heat, extreme pH or chemical treatment. Double strand DNA is melted by dissociation of the non-covalent hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Denatured DNA appears to be a single-stranded flexible structure. The effects of denaturation on RNA are similar though less pronounced and largely reversible.

**Tree numbers:** - E05.393.640 - G02.111.603 - G05.627