Salt-Dependent DNA-DNA Spacings in Intact Bacteriophage λ Reflect Relative Importance of DNA Self-Repulsion and Bending Energies

TitleSalt-Dependent DNA-DNA Spacings in Intact Bacteriophage λ Reflect Relative Importance of DNA Self-Repulsion and Bending Energies
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsX. Qiu, D. C. Rau, A. V. Parsegian, L. T. Fang, C. M. Knobler and W. M. Gelbart
Refereed DesignationRefereed
Journal TitlePhysical Review Letters
Volume106
Issue2
Pages28102
Date Published01/2011
ISSN Number1079-7114
Abstract

Using solution synchrotron x-ray scattering, we measure the variation of DNA-DNA d spacings in bacteriophage λ with mono-, di-, and polyvalent salt concentrations, for wild-type [48.5×103 base pairs (bp)] and short-genome-mutant (37.8 kbp) strains. From the decrease in d spacings with increasing salt, we deduce the relative contributions of DNA self-repulsion and bending to the energetics of packaged phage genomes. We quantify the DNA-DNA interaction energies within the intact phage by combining the measured d spacings in the capsid with measurements of osmotic pressure in DNA assemblies under the same salt conditions in bulk solution. In the commonly used Tris-Mg buffer, the DNA-DNA interaction energies inside the phage capsids are shown to be about 1kT/bp, an order of magnitude larger than the bending energies.

URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.028102
DOI10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.028102