Figure 3.

Experimental verification of the MD results for 6HB with and without ethylation {noted as C₂H₅ and blank). a) Schematic of ethylation experiment and the restricted expansion caused by a two-base-wide “ethyl ring”. b) Non-denaturing gel electrophoresis of samples on native 6% PAGE gel synthesized in 450 mM NaCl buffer. c) Elution profile of C₂H₅ and blank. The five zones correspond to the elution buffer (1), aggregates (2), isolated 6HB-DNA nanostructures (3), fractures and excess ssDNA chain (4), and elution buffer (5). d) Experimental data and theoretical fitting of SAXS intensities for C₂H₅ and blank sample group. The PDB models used for fitting are shown in Figure 3a, on the right. e) Total volume change for all the samples, and section area change for C₂H₅ and blank sample group, calculated from the PDB files. We defined the section area as the plane crossing through the center of the “ethyl ring”.