Torsional deformation of double helix in interaction and aggregation of DNA

被引：66

作者：

Cherstvy, AG

Kornyshev, AA

Leikin, S ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] NICHHD, NIH, Dept Hlth & Human Serv, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA

[2] Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol & Med, Dept Chem, Fac Phys Sci, London SW7 2AY, England

[3] Forschungszentrum Julich, Inst Festkorperforsch, D-52425 Julich, Germany

来源：

JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B | 2004年 / 108卷 / 20期

基金：

英国工程与自然科学研究理事会;

关键词：

D O I：

10.1021/jp0380475

中图分类号：

O64 [物理化学（理论化学）、化学物理学];

学科分类号：

070304 ; 081704 ;

摘要：

We incorporate sequence-dependent twisting between adjacent base pairs and torsional elasticity of double helix into the theory of DNA-DNA interaction. The results show that pairing and counterion-induced-aggregation of nonhomologous DNA are accompanied by considerable torsional deformation. The deformation tunes negatively charged phosphate strands and positively charged grooves on opposing molecules to stay "in register", substantially reducing nonideality of the helical structure of DNA. Its cost, however, makes interaction between nonhomologous DNA less energetically favorable. In particular, interaction between double helical DNA may result in sequence homology recognition and selective pairing of homologous fragments containing more than 100-200 base pairs. We also find a weak, but potentially measurable, increase in the expected counterion concentration required for aggregation of nonhomologous DNA and slightly higher solubility of such DNA above the critical concentration.

引用

页码：6508 / 6518

页数：11