Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
10:00
Controllable Ion Channel Expression through Inducible Transient Transfection
Published on: February 17, 2017
9.9K
DNA aggregation induced by Mg2+ ions under different conditions
Van-Chien Bui1,2, Thi-Huong Nguyen1,2
1Institute for Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Journal of Molecular Recognition : JMR
|May 17, 2018
Summary
Magnesium ions (Mg2+) induce DNA aggregation, altering oligonucleotide structure. This cation-DNA interaction shows promise for medical and biotechnological applications, including gene therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Cation-induced DNA aggregation influences oligonucleotide structure.
- This phenomenon has potential applications in medicine and biotechnology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the aggregation of lambda-DNA (λ-DNA) induced by magnesium ions (Mg2+).
- To explore DNA aggregation on Mg2+-treated glass surfaces and in Mg2+ solutions.
Main Methods:
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was employed to visualize DNA aggregation.
- Experiments were conducted on Mg2+-treated glass and in varying concentrations of Mg2+ solutions.
Main Results:
- DNA aggregation increased with higher Mg2+ concentrations on glass surfaces.
- DNA exhibited stronger aggregation in solution, forming stacked, twisted, or rolled structures depending on Mg2+ concentration.
- Specific thermal and mechanical treatments further enhanced DNA aggregation, forming pancake-like or large aggregate structures.
Conclusions:
- Mg2+ concentration and specific treatment conditions significantly affect DNA aggregation.
- Understanding these cation-DNA interactions is crucial for developing new medical and biotechnological tools.
- Findings support the potential of cation-DNA technology in gene therapy and other applications.
Related Concept Videos
03:24Common Ion Effect
47.0K
Compared with pure water, the solubility of an ionic compound is less in aqueous solutions containing a common ion (one also produced by dissolution of the ionic compound). This is an example of a phenomenon known as the common ion effect, which is a consequence of the law of mass action that may be explained using Le Châtelier’s principle. Consider the dissolution of silver iodide:
47.0K
03:11Precipitation of Ions
30.3K
Predicting Precipitation
The equation that describes the equilibrium between solid calcium carbonate and its solvated ions is:
The equation that describes the equilibrium between solid calcium carbonate and its solvated ions is:
30.3K
01:19Ion Channels
91.5K
The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
91.5K
03:45Formation of Complex Ions
26.2K
A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...
26.2K
03:27Ions and Ionic Charges
79.3K
In ordinary chemical reactions, the nucleus — which contains the protons and neutrons of each atom and thus identifies the element — remains unchanged. Electrons, however, can be added to atoms by transfer from other atoms, lost by transfer to other atoms, or shared with other atoms. The transfer and sharing of electrons among atoms govern the chemistry of the elements. During the formation of some compounds, atoms gain or lose electrons to form electrically charged particles called...
79.3K
02:54Ions as Acids and Bases
26.6K
Salts with Acidic Ions
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:
26.6K