Abstract
The flexural rigidity ε of double-stranded DNA has been calculated to be ε=1.2×10−19 dyne cm−2 from a study of the results of electron-microscopic measurements. A reexamination of the theoretical background of the analysis of the electron micrographs of DNA taken by the protein-monolayer technique is done on the basis of a stiff-chain model. An appropriate interpretation of the results is given in terms of two parameters: one is the flexural rigidity of the DNA molecule and the other is the “excluded area” which allows for the interaction between the DNA molecules and a surface-denatured protein monolayer. Employing the “diffusion method” introduced by Lang, et. al., the contour length and the end-to-end distance were measured from micrographs of DNA molecules. The materials studied were DNA of the λ-phage on a cytochrome-C monolayer. For this case, the “excluded area” βII has a numerical value of 0.016 μ2.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
P. Doty, J. Cell. Comp. Phys., 49, Supplement, 1 (1959).
P. Doty, J. Cell. Comp. Phys., 49, Supplement, 27 (1959).
A. K. Kleinschmidt, D. Lang, D. Jachert, and R. K. Zahn, Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 61, 857 (1957).
J. D. Watson and F. H. C. Crick, Nature, 171, 737 (1953).
A. Wada, Biopolymers, 2, 361 (1964).
D. Lang, A. K. Kleinschimidt, and R. K. Zahn, Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 88, 142 (1964).
D. Lang, B. Wolff, and D. Russel, J. Mol. Biol., 23, 163 (1967).
A. Katchalsky and S. Lifson, J. Polym. Sci., 11, 409 (1953).
J. Hearst and W. H. Stockmeyer, J. Chem. Phys., 37, 1425 (1962).
J. B. Hays, M. E. Magar, and B. H. Zimm, Biopolymers, 8, 531 (1963).
H. Eisenberg, Biopolymers, 8, 545 (1969).
N. Saito, "Introduction to Polymer Physics" Shokabo Co., Tokyo, 1967, p 432.
N. Saito, K. Takahashi, and Y. Yunoki, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., 22, 219 (1967).
O. Kratky and G. Porod, Rec. Trav. Chim. Pays-Bas, 68 1106 (1949).
R. A. Harris and J. E. Hearst, J. Chem. Phys., 44, 2595 (1966).
N. Saito and M. Namiki, Prog. Theor. Phys. Kyoto, 16, 2 (1956).
N. Saito and M. Namiki, Prog. Theor. Phys. Kyoto, 16, 71 (1956).
M. Fixman, J. Chem. Phys., 36, 3123 (1962).
M. Fuke, A. Wada, and J.-I. Tomizawa, J. Mol. Biol., to be published.
W. D. Harkins and T. F. Anderson, J. Biol. Chem., 125, 369 (1938).
G. Cohen and M. F. Eisenberg, Biopolymers, 4, 429 (1966).
H. B. Gray and J. E. Hearst, J. Mol. Biol., 35, 111 (1968).
R. Kilkson and M. F. Meastre, Nature, 195, 494 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sugi, M., Fuke, M. & Wada, A. Flexural Rigidity of Double-stranded DNA as Measured by Electron Microscopy. Polym J 1, 457–464 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.1.457
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.1.457