| Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 69, Number 3, February 2005
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 461 - 467 | |
| Section | Interdisciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2004-10367-2 | |
| Published online | 05 January 2005 | |
DNA bundle formation induced by cationic surfactants
1
Strategic Technology Group, ICI, Wilton Centre Redcar TS10 4RF, UK (Current address.)
2
Service de Chimie Moléculaire, CEA-Saclay - France
3
Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie Macromoléculaire, ESPCI - Paris, France
4
Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud - Orsay, France
Received:
16
September
2004
Accepted:
26
November
2004
We have evidenced bundle formation in DNA solutions, induced by
the addition of a monovalent cationic surfactant to a solution of
short DNA rods. The bundles are rod-like, with a large axial
ratio (
). Their formation is very likely controlled not
only by electrostatic interactions, but also by hydrophobic
interactions between surfactant chains, once bound to the DNA.
The bundles have diameters and lengths both remarkably well
defined and possess internal organisation. The value of the
diameter is close to that predicted by a model in which
interactions are mediated by condensed counterions; the length
might be limited by steric hindrance due to bundle overlapping or
by intrinsic chain flexibility.
PACS: 82.39.Pj – Nucleic acids, DNA and RNA bases / 82.70.Uv – Surfactants, micellar solutions, vesicles, lamellae, amphiphilic systems, (hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions)
© EDP Sciences, 2005
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