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Influence of charged surfaces on the morphology of DNA condensed with multivalent ions
Author(s) -
Besteman K.,
van Eijk K.,
Vilfan I. D.,
Ziese U.,
Lemay S. G.
Publication year - 2007
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.20806
Subject(s) - morphology (biology) , chemistry , counterion , dna condensation , dna , condensation , atomic force microscopy , chemical physics , ion , surface (topology) , counterion condensation , biophysics , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , materials science , geometry , physics , organic chemistry , transfection , biochemistry , genetics , mathematics , gene , engineering , biology
Abstract DNA in solution can be condensed into dense aggregates by multivalent counterions. Here we investigate the effect of a nearby surface on the morphology of DNA condensates. We show that, contrary to what has often been assumed, interactions between DNA condensates and the surface can strongly influence the observed morphology. This limits the usefulness of surface probes such as atomic force microscopy for studying the morphology of condensates in bulk solution. Surprisingly, we find that the most negatively charged surface disturbs the condensate morphology most, suggesting that the microscopic mechanism resulting in DNA condensation is also responsible for the attractive force between DNA and the surface. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 87: 141–148, 2007. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com