Structural Polymorphism of Single pDNA Condensates Elicited by Cationic Block Polyelectrolytes.

ABSTRACT: DNA folding is a core phenomenon in genome packaging within a nucleus. Such a phenomenon is induced by polyelectrolyte complexation between anionic DNA and cationic proteins of histones. In this regard, complexes formed between DNA and cationic polyelectrolytes have been investigated as models to gain insight into genome packaging. Upon complexation, DNA undergoes folding to reduce its occupied volume, which often results in multi-complex associated aggregates. However, when cationic copolymers comprising a polycation block and a neutral hydrophilic polymer block are used instead, DNA undergoes folding as a single molecule within a spontaneously formed polyplex micelle (PM), thereby allowing the observation of the higher-order structures that DNA forms. The DNA complex forms polymorphic st

SUBMITTER: Osada K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7408586 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature