中国物理B ›› 2015, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (12): 128702-128702.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/24/12/128702

所属专题: TOPICAL REVIEW — 8th IUPAP International Conference on Biological Physics

• TOPICAL REVIEW—8th IUPAP International Conference on Biological Physics • 上一篇    下一篇

A multi-field approach to DNA condensation

冉诗勇, 贾俊丽   

  1. Department of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
  • 收稿日期:2015-01-22 修回日期:2015-03-24 出版日期:2015-12-05 发布日期:2015-12-05
  • 通讯作者: Ran Shi-Yong E-mail:syran@wzu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:

    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21204065 and 20934004) and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No. Y4110357).

A multi-field approach to DNA condensation

Ran Shi-Yong (冉诗勇), Jia Jun-Li (贾俊丽)   

  1. Department of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
  • Received:2015-01-22 Revised:2015-03-24 Online:2015-12-05 Published:2015-12-05
  • Contact: Ran Shi-Yong E-mail:syran@wzu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:

    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21204065 and 20934004) and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No. Y4110357).

摘要:

DNA condensation is an important process in many fields including life sciences, polymer physics, and applied technology. In the nucleus, DNA is condensed into chromosomes. In polymer physics, DNA is treated as a semi-flexible molecule and a polyelectrolyte. Many agents, including multi-valent cations, surfactants, and neutral poor solvents, can cause DNA condensation, also referred to as coil-globule transition. Moreover, DNA condensation has been used for extraction and gene delivery in applied technology. Many physical theories have been presented to elucidate the mechanism underlying DNA condensation, including the counterion correlation theory, the electrostatic zipper theory, and the hydration force theory. Recently several single-molecule studies have focused on DNA condensation, shedding new light on old concepts. In this document, the multi-field concepts and theories related to DNA condensation are introduced and clarified as well as the advances and considerations of single-molecule DNA condensation experiments are introduced.

关键词: DNA condensation, coil-globule transition, polyelectrolyte, Manning theory, counterion correlation, hydration force, single-molecule, magnetic tweezers

Abstract:

DNA condensation is an important process in many fields including life sciences, polymer physics, and applied technology. In the nucleus, DNA is condensed into chromosomes. In polymer physics, DNA is treated as a semi-flexible molecule and a polyelectrolyte. Many agents, including multi-valent cations, surfactants, and neutral poor solvents, can cause DNA condensation, also referred to as coil-globule transition. Moreover, DNA condensation has been used for extraction and gene delivery in applied technology. Many physical theories have been presented to elucidate the mechanism underlying DNA condensation, including the counterion correlation theory, the electrostatic zipper theory, and the hydration force theory. Recently several single-molecule studies have focused on DNA condensation, shedding new light on old concepts. In this document, the multi-field concepts and theories related to DNA condensation are introduced and clarified as well as the advances and considerations of single-molecule DNA condensation experiments are introduced.

Key words: DNA condensation, coil-globule transition, polyelectrolyte, Manning theory, counterion correlation, hydration force, single-molecule, magnetic tweezers

中图分类号:  (DNA)

  • 87.14.gk
87.15.hp (Conformational changes) 82.37.Rs (Single molecule manipulation of proteins and other biological molecules) 82.35.Rs (Polyelectrolytes)