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Direct Observation of Dynamic Mechanical Regulation of DNA Condensation by Environmental Stimuli
Author(s) -
Lee Amy,
Karcz Adam,
Akman Ryan,
Zheng Tai,
Kwon Sara,
Chou SzuTing,
Sucayan Sarah,
Tricoli Lucas J.,
Hustedt Jason M.,
Leng Qixin,
Kahn Jason D.,
Mixson A. James,
Seog Joonil
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201403499
Subject(s) - dna condensation , dna , nucleic acid , chemistry , lysine , optical tweezers , molecule , force spectroscopy , biophysics , nanotechnology , transfection , materials science , amino acid , biochemistry , gene , physics , biology , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Gene delivery is a promising way to treat hereditary diseases and cancer; however, there is little understanding of DNA:carrier complex mechanical properties, which may be critical for the protection and release of nucleic acids. We applied optical tweezers to directly measure single‐molecule mechanical properties of DNA condensed using 19‐mer poly‐ L ‐lysine (PLL) or branched histidine–lysine (HK) peptides. Force–extension profiles indicate that both carriers condense DNA actively, showing force plateaus during stretching and relaxation cycles. As the environment such as carrier concentration, pH, and the presence of zinc ions changes, DNA:HK complexes showed dynamically regulated mechanical properties at multiple force levels. The fundamental knowledge from this study can be applied to design a mechanically tailored complex which may enhance transfection efficiency by controlling the stability of the complex temporally and spatially.