Counterion-induced condesation of deoxyribonucleic acid. a light-scattering study

The addition of the trivalent or tetravalent cations spermidine or spermine to a solution of T7 DNA in aqueous solution causes an alteration of the DNA from its extended coil form to a condensed form. If performed at low DNA concentration and at low ionic strengths, this transformation results in a monomolecular collapse to form a particle with a hydrodynamic radius of about 500 A. We have monitored this change using quasielastic and total intensity light scattering. In a solution of 50% methanol in water, the divalent cations Mg2+ and putrescine also can cause the condensation of DNA. Using Manning's (1978) counterion condensation theory, we calculate a striking unity among these disparate ions: the collapse occurs in each case when from 89 to 90% of the DNA phosphate charges are neutralized by condensed counterions.