Polyamine induced aggregation of DNA

Abstract

Polyamine induced aggregation of various DNAs has been studied under conditions usually employed in many enzymatic assays where DNA is one of the substrates. Spermine was by far the most efficient polyamine in causing aggregation followed by spermidine and cadaverine. All double-stranded and naturally occurring single-stranded DNAs were found to aggregate. No aggregation of single-stranded homodeoxypolymers could be detected under the same conditions. The concentration of polyamine at which the aggregation commenced was found to be a linear function of the DNA concentration. The slope of the curves depended on the nature of the polyamine, DNA the concentration of Mg++ and the ionic strength.

Condensed states of nucleic acids. III. Ψ(+) and Ψ(−) Conformational transitions of DNA induced by ethanol and salt

“…We measured [8]270 as a function of NaCl concentration in 25,30,35,40,45,50,55,60,63,65,68,70, and 77% ethanol. In the range of 35-60% ethanol we obtained curves similar to that shown in Fig.…”

Polyelectrolyte properties of filamentous biopolymers and their consequences in biological fluids

“…Data for F-actin taken from 30, 49 , for CSA13 from 67 , LL37 from 94, 99 , vimentin from 82, 114 , Pf1 from 12 , fd from 115 , Lys18 from 30 , F-actin/spermine from 14 , DNA and spermine from 116 , DNA and cobalt hexamine from 117 .…”

Novel Synthetic Polyamines Are Effective in the Treatment of Experimental Microsporidiosis, an Opportunistic AIDS-Associated Infection

“…1). The rationale behind the synthesis of oligoamines is the well-known fact that spermine (a tetramine), at a concentration range of 0.05 to 0.1 mM and at near physiological ionic strength, leads to the collapse of DNA (29). Oligoamines were found to condense DNA at much lower concentrations (2 to 4 M) and are indeed powerful inhibitors of human tumor cell proliferation.…”