Journal Article

PreJuSER-38482

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Attraction between DNA molecules mediated by multivalent ions

Allahyarov, E.FZJ* ; Gompper, G.FZJ* ; Löwen, H.

2004
APS College Park, Md.

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/1499  doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.69.041904

Abstract: The effective force between two parallel DNA molecules is calculated as a function of their mutual separation for different valencies of counterion and salt ions and different salt concentrations. Computer simulations of the primitive model are used and the shape of the DNA molecules is accurately modeled using different geometrical shapes. We find that multivalent ions induce a significant attraction between the DNA molecules whose strength can be tuned by the averaged valency of the ions. The physical origin of the attraction is traced back either to electrostatics or to entropic contributions. For multivalent counterions and monovalent salt ions, we find a salt-enhanced repulsion effect: the force is first attractive but gets repulsive with increasing salt concentration. Furthermore, we show that the multivalent-ion-induced attraction does not necessarily correlate with DNA overcharging.

Keyword(s): J

Note: Record converted from VDB: 12.11.2012

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Theorie II (IFF-TH-II)

Research Program(s):

1. Kondensierte Materie (M02)

Appears in the scientific report 2004
Notes: This version is available at the following Publisher URL: http://pre.aps.org

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