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. 2015 Nov 24;5:17133. doi: 10.1038/srep17133

Figure 1. Auto-packaging of plasmid DNA in response to mechanical stress of C and T co-ordination.

Figure 1

(a) AFM visualization of plasmid pBR322 DNA molecules gradually packaged into an eight-shaped dual-toroidal-spool conformation. The DNA molecules were incubated with a C and T mixture for ~5 h. Scale bar is 200 nm. (b) Statistical analysis of writhe number per pBR322 DNA molecule in the samples from (a) collected at different incubation times. The amount of divalent bound platinum (Pt) and sharp bends (Sb) per DNA molecule are indicated as the mean ± SD. (c) Distribution of DNA molecule compositions with different conformations during incubation corresponding to (b) under our experimental conditions. The number on horizontal axis refers to stage 0–5. Inset, representative structure of DNA molecules at each stage.