Mono- and Trivalent Ions Around DNA: a Small-angle Scattering Study of Competition and Interactions

Overview

Journal Biophys J

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Biophysics

Date 2008 Mar 15

PMID 18339743

Citations 30

Authors

Kurt Andresen

Xiangyun Qiu

Suzette A Pabit

Jessica S Lamb

Hye Yoon Park

Lisa W Kwok

Lois Pollack

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The presence of small numbers of multivalent ions in DNA-containing solutions results in strong attractive forces between DNA strands. Despite the biological importance of this interaction, e.g., DNA condensation, its physical origin remains elusive. We carried out a series of experiments to probe interactions between short DNA strands as small numbers of trivalent ions are included in a solution containing DNA and monovalent ions. Using resonant (anomalous) and nonresonant small angle x-ray scattering, we coordinated measurements of the number and distribution of each ion species around the DNA with the onset of attractive forces between DNA strands. DNA-DNA interactions occur as the number of trivalent ions increases. Surprisingly good agreement is found between data and size-corrected numerical Poisson-Boltzmann predictions of ion competition for non- and weakly interacting DNAs. We also obtained an estimate for the minimum number of trivalent ions needed to initiate DNA-DNA attraction.

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