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Interhelical spacing in liquid crystalline spermine and spermidine-DNA precipitates

Biophys J. 2005 Jan;88(1):392-403. doi: 10.1529/biophysj.104.040113. Epub 2004 Oct 15.

Abstract

The structure of polyamines-DNA precipitates was studied by x-ray diffraction. Precise measurements of the interhelix distance a(H) were obtained at different NaCl, polyamine, and DNA concentrations. Most of the results were obtained using spermine and few others using spermidine. The precipitates are liquid crystalline, either hexagonal and/or cholesteric, with an interhelical spacing that depends on the ionic concentrations and on the polyamine type. In our experimental conditions, the spacing varies from 28.15 to 33.4 angstroms. This variation is interpreted in terms of different ionic components that are present inside the precipitates and that are thought to regulate the value of the cohesive energy of DNA. These results are discussed in relation to the biological processes requiring a closeness of double helices and to the role played by polyamine analogs in cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cholesterol / chemistry
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ions
  • Models, Chemical
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleic Acid Denaturation
  • Nucleosomes / metabolism
  • Phosphates / chemistry
  • Polyamines / chemistry
  • RNA / chemistry
  • Salts / chemistry
  • Sodium Chloride / chemistry
  • Spermidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Spermidine / chemistry*
  • Spermine / chemistry
  • Thymus Gland / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Ions
  • Nucleosomes
  • Phosphates
  • Polyamines
  • Salts
  • Spermine
  • DNA-spermidine
  • Sodium Chloride
  • RNA
  • DNA
  • Cholesterol
  • Spermidine