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Structural information in the local electric field of dissolved B-DNA

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hochberg, D; Kephart, TW; Edwards, G
Published in: Physical Review E
January 1, 1994

We have developed a theoretical model of the electric potential and field for B-DNA in solution to investigate the persistence of structural information in the local field. A Green-function technique is used to account for the phosphate groups, the dominant charges of the polyelectrolyte DNA, as discrete surface charges exhibiting helical geometry. In addition to the DNA macromolecule, a region of condensed ions and bulk solvent are treated as dielectric media with cylindrical symmetry. We have derived analytical expressions that manifest the symmetry of the system. The leading term is equivalent to that of a continuous line charge and thus only reflects cylindrical symmetry. Information reflecting the helical structure is contained in the terms of higher order. The effective decay length for helical information in the local electric field is approximately 5 beyond the surface of DNA. These results have significance for investigations of nucleic-acid-protein interactions and for experimental efforts to image DNA with scanning force microscopies. © 1994 The American Physical Society.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Physical Review E

DOI

ISSN

1063-651X

Publication Date

January 1, 1994

Volume

49

Issue

1

Start / End Page

851 / 867
 

Citation

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Hochberg, D., Kephart, T. W., & Edwards, G. (1994). Structural information in the local electric field of dissolved B-DNA. Physical Review E, 49(1), 851–867. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.49.851
Hochberg, D., T. W. Kephart, and G. Edwards. “Structural information in the local electric field of dissolved B-DNA.” Physical Review E 49, no. 1 (January 1, 1994): 851–67. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.49.851.
Hochberg D, Kephart TW, Edwards G. Structural information in the local electric field of dissolved B-DNA. Physical Review E. 1994 Jan 1;49(1):851–67.
Hochberg, D., et al. “Structural information in the local electric field of dissolved B-DNA.” Physical Review E, vol. 49, no. 1, Jan. 1994, pp. 851–67. Scopus, doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.49.851.
Hochberg D, Kephart TW, Edwards G. Structural information in the local electric field of dissolved B-DNA. Physical Review E. 1994 Jan 1;49(1):851–867.

Published In

Physical Review E

DOI

ISSN

1063-651X

Publication Date

January 1, 1994

Volume

49

Issue

1

Start / End Page

851 / 867