Visualization of different pathways of DNA release from interpolyelectrolyte complex.
The release of double-stranded DNA from its interpolyelectrolyte complex with positively charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) via exchange reaction with added polyanion, poly(sodium styrenesulfonate), is directly observed by fluorescence microscopy. It is shown that the pathways of DNA release depend essentially on the amount of added low-molecular-weight salt. At low salt content, the DNA release proceeds via the formation of an intermediate "beads-on-string" structure, whereas at high salt content the release goes directly from globule to coil states without any intermediate structures. The reasons for different character of DNA release are discussed.
Ayoubi
Mehran Asad
MA
Physics Department, Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia, and Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
Zinchenko
Anatoly A
AA
Philippova
Olga E
OE
Khokhlov
Alexei R
AR
Yoshikawa
Kenichi
K
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004573:Electrolytes; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*
D004247:DNA; D004573:Electrolytes; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C077114:styrenesulfonic acid polymer