Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

DNA as a Genetic Template02:05

DNA as a Genetic Template

21.6K
Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...
21.6K
The DNA Helix01:07

The DNA Helix

19.1K
Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the genetic material responsible for passing traits from generation to generation in all organisms and most viruses. DNA is composed of two strands of nucleotides that wind around each other to form a spring-like structure called a double helix. However, the double helix is not perfectly symmetrical. Instead, there are regularly occurring grooves in the structure. The major groove occurs where the sugar-phosphate backbones are relatively far apart. This space...
19.1K
Chromatin Packaging01:32

Chromatin Packaging

16.5K
Each human somatic cell contains 6 billion base pairs of DNA. Each base pair is 0.34 nm long, meaning each diploid cell contains a staggering 2 meters of DNA. This long DNA strand is packed inside a nucleus measuring only 10-20 microns in diameter with the help of specialized DNA-binding proteins called histones. Together they form a compact DNA-protein complex called chromatin. The chromatin is further compacted into higher-order structures. The highest level of compaction is achieved during...
16.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Dual Role of Small Noncoding RNA and Hfq in Bacterial DNA Compaction: A New Perspective on Nucleoid Architecture.

ACS omega·2026
Same author

RNAs Associated With Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles: Structural Insights Into Surface Composition.

Journal of extracellular vesicles·2026
Same author

Uncovering a previously unknown function of polyphosphate in polyadenylated RNA-induced amyloidogenesis of Hfq.

The FEBS journal·2026
Same author

Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism of a Water-Soluble Cryptophane.

Chirality·2026
Same author

Application of Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism for Structural Analysis of RNAs.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026
Same author

The Nucleic Acids Circular Dichroism and Fourier Transform Databases NACDDB and NAIRDB: New Tools for RNA Structural Analysis.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2025

Studying DNA Looping by Single-Molecule FRET
11:27

Studying DNA Looping by Single-Molecule FRET

Published on: June 28, 2014

15.4K

Structural Study of DNA in Simulated Crowded Fluids.

Mariam El-Morched1, Jesse Vanloon1, Frank Wien2

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Centre for Biotechnology, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada.

Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology
|February 14, 2025
PubMed
Summary

DNA structure and hybridization are largely unaffected by crowding agents like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sucrose. However, DNA duplex dynamics, specifically strand exchange, are promoted by PEG but not by sucrose.

Keywords:
DNA hybridizationFRETMolecularly crowded fluidsSynchrotron radiation circular dichroism

More Related Videos

A Simple, Robust, and High Throughput Single Molecule Flow Stretching Assay Implementation for Studying Transport of Molecules Along DNA
12:05

A Simple, Robust, and High Throughput Single Molecule Flow Stretching Assay Implementation for Studying Transport of Molecules Along DNA

Published on: October 1, 2017

8.1K
Structure-Based Simulation and Sampling of Transcription Factor Protein Movements along DNA from Atomic-Scale Stepping to Coarse-Grained Diffusion
09:17

Structure-Based Simulation and Sampling of Transcription Factor Protein Movements along DNA from Atomic-Scale Stepping to Coarse-Grained Diffusion

Published on: March 1, 2022

3.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2025

Studying DNA Looping by Single-Molecule FRET
11:27

Studying DNA Looping by Single-Molecule FRET

Published on: June 28, 2014

15.4K
A Simple, Robust, and High Throughput Single Molecule Flow Stretching Assay Implementation for Studying Transport of Molecules Along DNA
12:05

A Simple, Robust, and High Throughput Single Molecule Flow Stretching Assay Implementation for Studying Transport of Molecules Along DNA

Published on: October 1, 2017

8.1K
Structure-Based Simulation and Sampling of Transcription Factor Protein Movements along DNA from Atomic-Scale Stepping to Coarse-Grained Diffusion
09:17

Structure-Based Simulation and Sampling of Transcription Factor Protein Movements along DNA from Atomic-Scale Stepping to Coarse-Grained Diffusion

Published on: March 1, 2022

3.1K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cellular environments are highly crowded, influencing biomolecular behavior.
  • Understanding DNA behavior in crowded conditions is crucial for molecular biology.
  • Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sucrose are common crowding agents used in simulations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the structural and hybridization properties of DNA in simulated crowded media.
  • To determine the effects of PEG and sucrose on DNA conformation and dynamics.
  • To elucidate the role of crowding agents in DNA complex formation.

Main Methods:

  • Synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) spectroscopy to analyze DNA structure.
  • Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to study DNA hybridization and dynamics.
  • Simulated crowded media using polyethylene glycol 10,000 and sucrose.

Main Results:

  • Overall circular dichroism (CD) profiles of DNA remained similar in crowded media versus buffer.
  • Amplitude ratios in CD spectra varied with DNA concentration and crowding agent, suggesting subtle conformational changes.
  • Hairpin and duplex formations were not significantly affected by crowding conditions.
  • DNA duplex dynamics, particularly strand exchange, were promoted by PEG but not by sucrose.

Conclusions:

  • Crowding agents like PEG and sucrose have minimal impact on DNA structure and hairpin/duplex formation.
  • DNA duplex dynamics are sensitive to crowding agents, with PEG promoting strand exchange.
  • These findings highlight the nuanced effects of cellular crowding on DNA behavior.