Published April 7, 1954
| public
Journal Article
The Complementary Structure of Deoxyribonucleic Acid
- Creators
- Crick, F. H. C.
- Watson, J. D.
Abstract
This paper describes a possible structure for the paracrystalline form of the sodium salt of deoxyribonucleic acid. The structure consists of two DNA chains wound helically round a common axis, and held together by hydrogen bonds between specific pairs of bases. The assumptions made in deriving the structure are described, and co-ordinates are given for the principal atoms. The structure of the crystalline form is discussed briefly.
Additional Information
© 1954 The Royal Society. Communicated by Sir Lawrence Bragg, F.R.S.-Received 24 August 1953. Aided by a Fellowship from the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (U.S.A.). We are most indebted to Dr M. H.F. Wilkins both for informing us of unpublished experimental observations and for the benefit of numerous discussions. We are also grateful to Dr J. Donohue for constant advice on the problems of tautomerism and van der Waals contacts, and to Professor A. R. Todd, F.R.S., for advice on chemical matters, and for allowing us access to unpublished work. One of us (J.D.W.) wishes in addition to acknowledge the very kind hospitality provided during his stay at the Cavendish Laboratory by Sir Lawrence Bragg, F.R.S., and by the members of the Medical Research Council Unit located there. He is especially grateful to the encouragement provided by Dr J.C. Kendrew and Dr M. F. Perutz. In conclusion he would like to mention Professor S. E. Luria of the University of Illinois to whom he is indebted for both the opportunity to come to and to remain in Cambridge.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 62892
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20151214-135305513
- National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
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2015-12-14Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field