MOTION OF POLYAMMONIUM IONS ON AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS OF DNA

Magnetic resonance techniques have been used to establish or confirm that (i) various polyamines are present almost completely as polyammonium cations at pH 7, (ii) that these have the very high affinity for DNA expected between a polycation and polyanion, and (iii) that this is a loose electrostatic interaction which does not significantly hinder motion (rotational and translational) of the cations close to DNA, and hence that migration of the polyammonium ions along the DNA must be extremely rapid. © 1990.