The first application of the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation to biological problem: A new interpretation of the temperature dependent hydrogen exchange rates of the thrombin-binding DNA

The Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation, which is widely applied in condensed matter physics, is for the first time applied to analysis of the hydrogen exchange rates of DNA as a function of temperature. The VFT equation, which for hydrogen exchange should read kex=Aexp[−(E/R)/(T−T0)]kex=Aexp[−(E/R)/(T−T0)], contains a constant temperature T0T0. When we analyzed the hydrogen exchange rates for the thrombin binding DNA aptamer d  (GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG) as a function of temperature using the VFT equation, we found that T0T0 happens to be the melting temperature of the DNA. A quantitative relationship is established between the VFT equation and the Arrhenius equation. Under suitable conditions the VFT equation can be reduced to the Arrhenius equation.