Physics Commons^™

Spatial Distribution Of Competing Ions Around Dna In Solution, Kurt Andresen, R. Das, Hye Yoon Park, H. Smith, Lisa W. Kwok, Jessica S. Lamb, E. J. Kirkland, D. Herschlag, K. D. Finkelstein, Lois Pollack

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The competition of monovalent and divalent cations for proximity to negatively charged DNA is of biological importance and can provide strong constraints for theoretical treatments of polyelectrolytes. Resonant x-ray scattering experiments have allowed us to monitor the number and distribution of each cation in a mixed ion cloud around DNA. These measurements provide experimental evidence to support a general theoretical prediction: the normalized distribution of each ion around polyelectrolytes remains constant when ions are mixed at different ratios. In addition, the amplitudes of the scattering signals throughout the competition provide a measurement of the surface concentration parameter that predicts the …