A
kinetic
study
of
the
alkaline
transition
of
DNA,
in
clearly
defined
physico-chemical
conditions,
is
presented,
which
allows
us
to
identify,
within
the
alkaline
transition
region,
different
pH
ranges,
corresponding
to
different
rate-
limiting
factors.
This
analysis
brings
into
consideration
three
distinct
intervals
of
time
which
characterize
the
whole
process,
namely
the
time
necessary
for
full
hyperchromicity
to
be
reached,
the
time
required
for
strand
separation
in
the
case
of
a
single
DNA
molecule,
and
the
time
for
complete
denaturation
to
be
reached
in
the
case
of
a
DNA
solution.