Molecular weight and polydispersity of calf-thymus DNA: static light-scattering and size-exclusion chromatography with dual detection

Biomacromolecules. 2009 Nov 9;10(11):3148-50. doi: 10.1021/bm900768j.

Abstract

Plausible calf-thymus DNA molecular weight distribution can be obtained by size-exclusion chromatography with dual low-angle light scattering/refractometric detection at sufficiently low flow rate. The distribution extends over three decades of molecular weight and is characterized by weight average molecular weight M(w) = 8418000 and polydispersity index M(w)/M(n) = 5.2. After strongly scattering impurities had been removed from the sample using adsorption properties of the 3 mum mixed-cellulose-ester filter membranes, static light-scattering measurement in flow injection mode was feasible and gave M(w) = 8580000, corroborating the veracity of SEC results.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, Gel* / methods
  • DNA / analysis*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Light*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Scattering, Radiation

Substances

  • DNA
  • calf thymus DNA