ABSTRACT
UV absorption Nucleic acids absorb UV light due to the conjugated aromatic nature of the bases; the sugar-phosphate backbone does not contribute appreciably to absorption. The wavelength of maximum absorption of light by both DNA and RNA is 260 nm ( max = 260 nm), which is conveniently distinct from the max of protein (280 nm) (see Topic B1). The absorption properties of nucleic acids can be used for detection, quantitation and assessment of purity.
