title: Atomic force microscopy imaging of DNA under macromolecular crowding conditions.
abstract: Studying the influence of macromolecular crowding at high ionic strengths on assemblies of biomolecules is of particular interest because these are standard intracellular conditions. However, up to now, no techniques offer the possibility of studying the effect of molecular crowding at the single molecule scale and at high resolution. We present a method to observe double-strand DNA under macromolecular crowding conditions on a flat mica surface by atomic force microscope. By using high concentrations of monovalent salt ([NaCl] > 100 mM), we promote DNA adsorption onto NiCl 2 pretreated muscovite mica. It therefore allows analysis of DNA conformational changes and DNA compaction induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG), a neutral crowding agent, at physiological concentrations of monovalent salt.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Structure et Activité des Biomolécules Normales et Pathologiques, INSERM U829/Université d'Evry EA3637. david.pastre@univ-evry.fr
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pastré
authors.forename: Loïc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hamon
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mechulam
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sorel
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baconnais
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Curmi
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Cam
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Piétrement
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D004247:DNA; C011934:mica