Phase Transition of Catenated DNA Networks in Poly(ethylene glycol) Solutions. 2021

Indresh Yadav, and Dana Al Sulaiman, and Beatrice W Soh, and Patrick S Doyle
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.

Conformational phase transitions of macromolecules are an important class of problems in fundamental polymer physics. While the conformational phase transitions of linear DNA have been extensively studied, this feature of topologically complex DNA remains unexplored. We report herein the polymer-and-salt-induced (Ψ) phase transition of 2D catenated DNA networks, called kinetoplasts, using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy. We observe that kinetoplasts can undergo a reversible transition from the flat phase to the collapsed phase in the presence of NaCl as a function of the crowding agent poly(ethylene glycol). The nature of this phase transition is tunable through varying ionic strengths. For linear DNA, the coexistence of coil and globule phases was attributed to a first order phase transition associated with a double well potential in the transition regime. Kinetoplasts, however, navigate from the flat to the collapsed phase by passing through an intermediate regime, characterized by the coexistence of a multipopulation with varying shapes and sizes. Conformations of individual molecules in the multipopulation are long-lived, which suggests a rugged energy landscape.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011092 Polyethylene Glycols Polymers of ETHYLENE OXIDE and water, and their ethers. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid depending on the molecular weight indicated by a number following the name. They are used as SURFACTANTS, dispersing agents, solvents, ointment and suppository bases, vehicles, and tablet excipients. Some specific groups are NONOXYNOLS, OCTOXYNOLS, and POLOXAMERS. Macrogols,Polyoxyethylenes,Carbowax,Macrogol,Polyethylene Glycol,Polyethylene Oxide,Polyethyleneoxide,Polyglycol,Glycol, Polyethylene,Glycols, Polyethylene,Oxide, Polyethylene,Oxides, Polyethylene,Polyethylene Oxides,Polyethyleneoxides,Polyglycols,Polyoxyethylene
D011108 Polymers Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These compounds often form large macromolecules (e.g., BIOPOLYMERS; PLASTICS). Polymer
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D043864 DNA, Catenated CIRCULAR DNA that is interlaced together as links in a chain. It is used as an assay for the activity of DNA TOPOISOMERASES. Catenated DNA is attached loop to loop in contrast to CONCATENATED DNA which is attached end to end. Catenanes, DNA,Catenated DNA,DNA, Catanates,DNA Catenanes
D044367 Phase Transition A change of a substance from one form or state to another. Gas-Liquid-Solid Phase Transitions,Sol-Gel Phase Transition,Gas Liquid Solid Phase Transitions,Gas-Liquid-Solid Phase Transition,Phase Transition, Gas-Liquid-Solid,Phase Transition, Sol-Gel,Phase Transitions,Phase Transitions, Gas-Liquid-Solid,Phase Transitions, Sol-Gel,Sol Gel Phase Transition,Sol-Gel Phase Transitions,Transition, Gas-Liquid-Solid Phase,Transition, Sol-Gel Phase,Transitions, Gas-Liquid-Solid Phase,Transitions, Sol-Gel Phase

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