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DNA-Lysozyme Nanoarchitectonics: Quantitative Investigation on Charge Inversion and Compaction
Rongyan Zhang1, Yanwei Wang1, Guangcan Yang1
1Department of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
Polymers
|April 12, 2022
Summary
Lysozyme protein neutralizes DNA charge, causing it to condense. This DNA-protein interaction is key for biological research and nanotechnology applications.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Protein-DNA interactions are crucial for biological processes.
- These interactions hold promise for nanotechnology applications.
- Understanding these interactions aids in developing novel biomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between lambda DNA and lysozyme.
- To analyze the effects of lysozyme on DNA charge and condensation.
- To explore potential applications in DNA nanotechnology.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic tweezers (MT) were used to measure DNA condensation forces.
- Dynamic light scattering (DLS) determined DNA electrophoretic mobility and charge.
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM) visualized the morphology of DNA-lysozyme complexes.
Main Results:
- Lysozyme induced DNA charge inversion at a critical charge ratio of 2.26.
- Increasing lysozyme concentration shifted DNA’s effective charge from negative to positive.
- DNA condensation force peaked at 10.7 pN upon charge neutralization, with structural changes observed.
Conclusions:
- Lysozyme effectively neutralizes DNA charge, leading to significant condensation.
- The study elucidates the mechanism of DNA-protein complex formation.
- Findings provide insights into DNA-protein interactions for nanotechnology.
