Polymer- and salt-induced toroids of hexagonal DNA

Biophys J. 1995 Jan;68(1):54-61. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(95)80158-X.

Abstract

A model is proposed for polymer- and salt-induced toroidal condensates of DNA, based on a recent theory of the undulation enhancement of the electrostatic interaction in the bulk hexagonal phase of semiflexible polyions. In a continuum approximation, the thermodynamic potential of a monomolecular toroid may be split up in bulk, surface, and curvature contributions. With the help of an approximate analytical minimization procedure, the optimal torus dimensions are calculated as a function of the concentrations of inert polymer and added salt. The stability of the torus is analyzed in terms of its surface tension and a bulk melting criterion. The theory should be applicable to psi-toroids that are not too thick.

MeSH terms

  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA, Circular / chemistry
  • Electrochemistry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*
  • Polymers
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Solutions
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • DNA, Circular
  • Polymers
  • Solutions
  • Sodium Chloride
  • DNA