Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Hybrid Ensemble and Single-molecule Assay to Image the Motion of Fully Reconstituted CMG
Published on: July 26, 2024
Conformational behavior of giant DNA through binding with Ag+ and metallization
Anatoly A Zinchenko1, Damien Baigl, Ning Chen
1Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Furo, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan. zinchenko@urban.env.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
The conformational behavior of a long single-chain double-stranded DNA in solutions of free silver ions and silver nanoparticles generated via the reduction of AgNO3 by NaBH4 was monitored by fluorescence and electron microscopies and UV spectroscopy. The interaction of monovalent silver ions with DNA induces shrinking of a DNA-coiled polymer chain as a result of a decrease in the DNA persistence length through the complexation of Ag+ with DNA bases. In contrast, the reduction of silver ions by NaBH4 in DNA solutions triggers DNA compaction: a DNA transition from elongated coil state into a compact state. This transition is continuous, unlike the all-or-none discrete DNA compaction that is commonly seen with multications. It is suggested that the collapse of DNA is accompanied by growth aggregation of silver nanoparticles generated on the DNA template.
