RNA-like conformational properties of a synthetic DNA poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU).

Differences in the circular dichroism of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) and poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU) and in its temperature induced changes are reported. A comparison to the data obtained with DNA and RNA indicates that an absence of thymine methyl groups in the polynucleotide results in promoting its RNA-like conformational properties. However, poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU) is not an A-DNA type of double helix.