DNA electrophoresis in dilute polymer solutions: a nonbinary mechanism.
The dynamical behavior of the neutral polymer (dextran, M(w)=2 x 10(6)) is investigated during DNA electrophoresis in a dilute solution. Using a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching setup, we measured the velocity of fluorescein-labeled dextran induced by the migration of the DNA. We found that each DNA molecule drags a large number of dextrans with it. We show that DNA-dextran interactions are not only binary but long range and indirect. We conclude that the DNA-dextran complex creates a hydrodynamic field that entrains polymers far from the DNA during electrophoresis.
Ekani-Nkodo
Axel
A
Institut Charles Sadron-CNRS, 6 rue Boussingault, 67083 Strasbourg Cedex, France. tinland@ics.u-strasbg.fr
Tinland
Bernard
B
D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D003911:Dextrans; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA