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. 1983 Mar 25;11(6):1919–1930. doi: 10.1093/nar/11.6.1919

Chain flexibility and hydrodynamics of the B and Z forms of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC).

T J Thomas, V A Bloomfield
PMCID: PMC325846  PMID: 6835843

Abstract

The solution properties of the B and Z forms of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) have been measured by static and dynamic laser light scattering. The radius of gyration, persistence length, translational and segmental diffusion coefficients, and the Rouse-Zimm parameters have been evaluated. The persistence length of the Z form determined at 3 M NaCl is about 200 nm compared to 84 and 61 nm respectively for the B forms of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC), and calf thymus DNA, both determined at 0.1 M NaCl. The data on persistence length, diffusion coefficients and the Rouse-Zimm parameters indicate a large increase in the chain stiffness of Z DNA compared to the B form. These results are opposite to the ionic strength effects on random sequence native DNAs, for which the flexibility increases with ionic strength and levels off at about 1 M NaCl.

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Selected References

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