APPLICATION OF VITAMIN-K-3 AS A PHOTOCHEMICAL FLUORESCENCE PROBE IN THE DETERMINATION OF NUCLEIC-ACIDS

An in situ photochemical fluorescence probe method for the determinati on of nucleic acids with vitamin k(3)(VK3) as the photochemical fluore scence probe was developed for the first time. It was based on the con version of VK3 into an intensively fluorescent product on irradiating with UV radiation. The photochemical reaction is decelerated by nuclei c acids. The determination can be carried out by measuring the fluores cence intensity at a fixed time. The calibration graph was linear in t he range of 0-1.5 mu g/ml for CT DNA, and 0-2.0 mu g/ml for yeast RNA the limit of detection was 10 ng/ml for CT DNA and 26 ng/ml for yeast RNA. The kinetic behaviour of the photochemical reaction and the effec ts of some experimental conditions were investigated and discussed in detail. CT DNA could be determined in the presence of 40%(w/w) yeast R NA and yeast RNA was determined when the content of CT DNA in syntheti c samples was below 6%(w/w).