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PMID: 8599671 Published · ppublish English Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Video light microscopy of 670-kb DNA in a hanging drop: shape of the envelope of DNA.

Biophysical journal ·Vol. 69 ·No. 6 ·1995-12-00 ·Pages 2649-60

Serwer P, Estrada A, Harris RA

Abstract

Although its conformation has not been observed directly, double-stranded DNA in solution is usually assumed to be randomly coiled at the level of the DNA double helix. By video light microscopy of ethidium-stained DNA at equilibrium in a nonturbulent hanging drop, in the present study, the 670 kb linear bacteriophage G DNA is found to form a flexible filament that has on average 17 double helical segments across its width. This flexible filament 1) has both asymmetry and dimensions expected of a random coil and 2) has ends that move according to the statistics expected of a random walk. After unraveling the flexible filament-associated DNA double helix near the surface of a hanging drop, recompaction occurs without perceptible rotation of the DNA. Both conformational change and intermolecular tangling of the DNA are observed when G DNA undergoes nondiffusive motion in a hanging drop. The characteristics of the G DNA flexible filament are explained by the assumption that the flexible filament is a random coil of double helical segments that are unperturbed by motion of the suspending medium.

MeSH Terms

Bacteriophages Base Composition Computer Simulation DNA, Viral/chemistry,ultrastructure Electrophoresis, Agar Gel Ethidium Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods Microscopy, Video/methods Molecular Weight Nucleic Acid Conformation Random Allocation

Chemicals

DNA, Viral Ethidium

Authors & Affiliations

3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID

Serwer P

Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7760, USA. serwer@uthscsa.edu

Estrada A

Harris R A

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Article Info

Journal

Biophysical journal

Abbr.

Biophys J

ISSN

0006-3495

DOI

10.1016/S0006-3495(95)80135-9

serwer@uthscsa.edu

Published

1995-12-00

Pages

2649-60

Language

English

Region

United States

NLM ID

0370626

PMCID

PMC1236502

Subset

Grants

NIGMS NIH HHS · GM-24365 · United States

External Links

PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3495(95)80135-9 PMC Full Text View journal details

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Video light microscopy of 670-kb DNA in a hanging drop: shape of the envelope of DNA.

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