Binding effects of Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions on the vibrational properties of guanine-cytosine base pairs in the Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen configurations.

The binding effects of Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions on the vibrational properties of guanine-cytosine base pairs have been performed using density functional theory investigations. The calculations were carried out on Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen configurations of the base pairs. We have found, that in Watson-Crick configuration, the metal is coordinated to N7 atom of guanine while, in the case of Hoogsteen configuration, the coordination is at N3 atom of guanine. We have pointed out the vibrational bands that can be used to detect the presence of metallic ions in the Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen structures. Our results show that the vibrational amplitudes of metallic atoms are strong for wavenumbers lower than 600 cm⁻¹. Also, we predict that the distinction between Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen configurations can be seen around 85, 170 and 310 cm⁻¹.