Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

CD Spectroscopy to Study DNA-Protein Interactions
Published on: February 10, 2022
How does DNA compaction favor chiral selectivity with cationic species? Higher selectivity with lower cationic charge
Anatoly A Zinchenko1, Ning Chen, Shizuaki Murata
1Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 608-8501, Japan. zinchenko@chem.scphys.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
A single-molecule study on giant DNA compaction by enantiomeric dications and tetracations demonstrates that strong chiral discrimination in DNA compaction is manifested only if the positive charge on enantiomeric multications is relatively low. The increase in cationicity of the chiral compaction agent inevitably leads to an increase in nonspecific electrostatic interactions and quenching of chiral discrimination in the DNA-folding phase transition.
Related Concept Videos
Chirality in Nature
Prochirality
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Ion-Exchange Chromatography

