DNA Twist Stability Changes with Magnesium(2+) Concentration

Phys Rev Lett. 2016 Jun 24;116(25):258102. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.258102. Epub 2016 Jun 21.

Abstract

To understand DNA elasticity at high forces (F>30 pN), its helical nature must be taken into account, as a coupling between twist and stretch. The prevailing model, the wormlike chain, was previously extended to include this twist-stretch coupling. Motivated by DNA's charged nature, and the known effects of ionic charges on its elasticity, we set out to systematically measure the impact of buffer ionic conditions on twist-stretch coupling. After developing a robust fitting approach, we show, using our new data set, that DNA's helical twist is stabilized at high concentrations of the magnesium divalent cation. DNA's persistence length and stretch modulus are, on the other hand, relatively insensitive to the applied range of ionic strengths.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Elasticity
  • Magnesium / chemistry*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Osmolar Concentration

Substances

  • DNA
  • Magnesium