Marked Difference in the Conformational Transition of DNA Caused by Propanol Isomer
Yue Ma1, Yuko Yoshikawa1, Hidehiro Oana2
1Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe 610-0394, Japan.
Abstract:
We measured the changes in the higher-order structure of DNA molecules (λ phage DNA, 48 kbp) at different concentrations of 1- and 2-propanol through single-molecular observation. It is known that 2-propanol is usually adapted for the procedure to isolate genomic DNA from living cells/organs in contrast to 1-propanol. In the present study, it was found that with an increasing concentration of 1-propanol, DNA exhibits reentrant conformational transitions from an elongated coil to a folded globule, and then to an unfolded state. On the other hand, with 2-propanol, DNA exhibits monotonous shrinkage into a compact state. Stretching experiments under direct current (DC) electrical potential revealed that single DNA molecules intermediately shrunk by 1- and 2-propanol exhibit intrachain phase segregation, i.e., coexistence of elongated and compact parts. The characteristic effect of 1-propanol causing the reentrant transition is argued in terms of the generation of water-rich nanoclusters.
Related Concept Videos
Conformations of Ethane and Propane
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
DNA Topoisomerases
Types and Mechanism of action
Topoisomerases are divided into two main types. ...
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Variable-Temperature NMR
Conformations of Butane
Chair Conformation of Cyclohexane
The hydrogen atoms linked to carbons are arranged in two different axial and equatorial orientations to achieve this...


