The double-stranded DNA stability in presence of a flexible polymer

J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2019 Mar;37(5):1099-1103. doi: 10.1080/07391102.2018.1459320. Epub 2018 Apr 23.

Abstract

The mixture of the short segments of double-stranded DNA and a flexible polymer are addressed. It is shown that in the condensed phase, rigid DNA molecules exhibit transition between isotropic and orientationally ordered phases. It is shown that orientational ordering stabilizes the secondary structure of double-stranded DNA that could be relevant for the regulation of the gene expression at the condensed state of DNA.

Keywords: DNA condensation; DNA stability; gene expression; orientational order.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / genetics*
  • Gene Expression
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Polymers
  • DNA