Formation of ordered domains in membrane-bound DNA.
The interactions between DNA molecules adsorbed on fluid membranes are calculated. The adsorbing DNA perturbs the equilibrium packing of the lipids, thereby giving rise to membrane-induced, attractive interactions. These balance the direct repulsive interactions between DNA molecules. As a result, DNA adsorbed on membranes is predicted to form ordered domains characterized by a finite spacing, which varies with the membrane characteristics and the solution Debye screening length. Comparing the model predictions to recent experiments (Yang et al. 1996) yields excellent agreement with only one free (i.e., experimentally unknown) parameter.
Dan
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Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark 19716, USA. dan@che.udel.edu
D000327:Adsorption; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013816:Thermodynamics
D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D004247:DNA