title: Formation of DNA nanoparticles in the presence of novel polyamine analogues: a laser light scattering and atomic force microscopic study.
abstract: We synthesized a pentamine (3-3-3-3) and two hexamine (3-3-3-3-3 and 3-4-3-4-3) analogues of the natural polyamine, spermine (3-4-3) and studied their effectiveness in condensing pGL3 plasmid DNA, using light scattering and atomic force microscopic (AFM) techniques. The midpoint concentration of the polyamines on pGL3 condensation (EC50) was 11.3, 10.6, 1.5, 0.49 and 0.52 micro M, respectively, for 3-4-3, norspermine (3-3-3), 3-3-3-3, 3-3-3-3-3 and 3-4-3-4-3 in 10 mM Na cacodylate buffer. Dynamic laser light scattering study showed a decrease in hydrodynamic radii of plasmid DNA particles as the number of positive charges on the polyamines increased. AFM data showed the presence of toroids with outer diameter of 117-191 nm for different polyamines, and a mean height of 2.61 +/- 0.77 nm. AFM results also revealed the presence of intermediate structures, including those showing circumferential winding of DNA to toroids. The dependence of the EC50 on Na+ concentration suggests different modes of binding of spermine and its higher valent analogues with DNA. Our results show a 20-fold increase in the efficacy of hexamines for DNA condensation compared to spermine, and provide new insights into the mechanism(s) of DNA nanoparticle formation. These studies might help to develop novel nonviral gene delivery vehicles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, CAB7090, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vijayanathan
authors.forename: Thresia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Antony
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirahata
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D007834:Lasers; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010316:Particle Size; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012492:Salts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013096:Spermine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012492:Salts; D013096:Spermine; D012964:Sodium