Abstract
Despite the extensive interest in applications of plasmid DNA, there have been few direct measurements of the root mean square radius of gyration, R G, of different plasmid isoforms over a broad range of plasmid size. Static light scattering data were obtained using supercoiled, open-circular, and linear isoforms of 5.76, 9.80, and 16.8 kbp plasmids. The results from this study extend the range of R G values available in the literature to plasmid sizes typically used for gene therapy and DNA vaccines. The experimental data were compared with available theoretical expressions based on the worm-like chain model, with the best-fit value of the apparent persistence length for both the linear and open-circular isoforms being statistically identical at 46 nm. A new expression was developed for the radius of gyration of the supercoiled plasmid based on a model for linear DNA using an effective contour length that is equal to a fraction of the total contour length. These results should facilitate the development of micro/nano-fluidic devices for DNA manipulation and size-based separation processes for plasmid DNA purification.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 134-142 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Biotechnology and bioengineering |
Volume | 107 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2010 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biotechnology
- Bioengineering
- Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology