Controlling the conformation of large DNA molecule in aqueous solution.
We have studied the conformational change of T4DNA molecules in aqueous polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution by use of fluorescence microscopy. It was found that the DNA molecules exhibit abrupt transition from elongated coil into shrunken globule conformations depending on the concentration of PEG6000, a polymer with 186 monomer units. Interestingly, PEG20M, with 454 monomer units, shows two different types of transition; coil-globule transition around 0.1 M and globule-coil transition above 1 M. Such transitions are expected to be related to the regulation of gene expression and replication in living cells.
Matsuzawa
Y
Y
Graduate School of Human Informatics, Nagoya University, Japan.
Yoshikawa
K
K
D017122:Bacteriophage T4 / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols