Water-soluble polyion complex associates of DNA and poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lysine) block copolymer

Bioconjug Chem. 1997 Sep-Oct;8(5):702-7. doi: 10.1021/bc9701306.

Abstract

Complex formation of poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lysine) (PEG-PLL) AB type block copolymer with salmon testes DNA or Col E1 plasmid DNA in aqueous milieu was studied. The PLL segment of PEG-PLL interacts with nucleic acid through an electrostatic force to form a water-soluble complex associate with a diameter of ca. 50 nm. PEG segments surrounding the core of the polyion complex prevented the complex from precipitation even under stoichiometric conditions, at which the unit ratio of L-lysine in PEG-PLL and phosphate in the DNA is equal. The profile of the thermal melting curve revealed a higher stabilization of DNA structure in PEG-PLL/DNA complexes compared to that in the complex made from DNA and PLL homopolymer with the same molecular weight as the PLL segment in PEG-PLL. This stabilizing effect on the DNA structure may be due to the compartmentalization of DNA into the microenvironment of PEG with low permittivity. The reversible nature of the PEG-PLL/DNA complex was further verified through the addition of polyanion [poly-(L-aspartic acid)]: Poly(L-aspartic acid) replaced DNA in the complex with PEG-PLL, resulting in the release of free DNA in the medium. Furthermore, the PEG-PLL/DNA complex showed high resistance against DNase I attack, suggesting DNA protection through the segregation into the core of the associate having PEG palisade.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Chemistry, Physical
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Deoxyribonucleases / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Light
  • Male
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polylysine / chemistry*
  • Salmon
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Solubility
  • Testis / chemistry

Substances

  • (O-methylpoly(ethylene glycol)-O'-succinyl)-N-epsilon-poly(L-lysine)
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Polylysine
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • DNA
  • Deoxyribonucleases