title: The world of DNA in glycol solution.
abstract: The properties of high-molecular-weight DNA are usually investigated in neutral aqueous solutions. Strong acids and strong alkaline solutions are obviously unsuitable, as are corrosive solvents, and DNA is insoluble in most organic solvents; precipitation of DNA from aqueous solution with ethanol or isopropanol is therefore frequently used as a purification step. An exception is the organic solvent glycol (ethylene glycol, 1,2-ethanediol, dihydroxyethane, HOCH2CH2OH) and the similar solvent glycerol. Double-stranded DNA remains soluble in salt-containing glycol, although it precipitates in polyethylene glycol. (DNA also remains soluble in formamide, but the double-helical structure of DNA is much less stable in this solvent than in glycol.) However, DNA in glycol has been little investigated during the last half-century.
authors.affiliation: Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, EN6 3LD, UK.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindahl
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006018:Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006018:Glycols; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D004247:DNA