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Cation effects on the nonlinear electrical properties of DNA solutions
Author(s) -
Marion C.,
Hanss M.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.1980.360190907
Subject(s) - polarizability , chemistry , electric field , birefringence , nonlinear system , dna , amplitude , field (mathematics) , analytical chemistry (journal) , dispersion (optics) , second harmonic generation , harmonic , electric susceptibility , optics , physics , polarization density , quantum mechanics , organic chemistry , molecule , biochemistry , laser , mathematics , magnetization , magnetic field , pure mathematics
The nonlinear electrical properties of DNA solutions were measured when different monovalent cations were added to DNA. The influence of different parameters has been examined: fundamental frequency, field strength, and concentration. A linear relationship between the harmonic current I h and the DNA concentration is shown, even for higher concentration values (400 mg/l.). The frequency dispersion of I h has the same shape for all the cations and the low‐frequency amplitude of I h increases in the following order: Li + < Na + < K + < NH 4 +< Cs + . The nonlinear polarizability values are compared with the linear ones determined using the very low field electric birefringence technique. Both linear and nonlinear values are of the same order of magnitude. It is thought that the nonlinear electrical property of high‐molecular‐weight DNA mainly results from the deformation of the DNA coils by the electric field.