Protein-DNA and ion-DNA interactions revealed through contrast variation SAXS.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how DNA carries out its biological roles requires knowledge of its interactions with biological partners. Since DNA is a polyanionic polymer, electrostatic interactions contribute significantly. These interactions are mediated by positively charged protein residues or charge compensating cations. Direct detection of these partners and/or their effect on DNA conformation poses challenges, especially for monitoring conformational dynamics in real time. Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) is uniquely sensitive to both the conformation and local environment (i.e. protein partner and associated ions) of the DNA. The primary challenge of studying multi-component systems with SAXS lies in resolving how each component contributes to the measured scattering. Here, we review two contra

SUBMITTER: Tokuda JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4991782 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature