On thermal transitions in biological macromolecules.

ABSTRACT

The thermal transitions shown by macromolecules are to be understood as an allosteric phenomenon. They can be dealt with in terms of the same linkage principles as those governing the binding of a chemical ligand. This provides a basis for analyzing the observed differences between the reversible heat denaturation of proteins and the melting of nucleic acids. It also adds to our understanding of cooperativity and heterotropic linkage.