Ionic mobility in DNA films studied by dielectric spectroscopy

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2014 Sep;37(9):39. doi: 10.1140/epje/i2014-14082-5. Epub 2014 Sep 26.

Abstract

Double-helix DNA molecules can be found under different conformational structures driven by ionic and hydration surroundings. Usually, only the B-form of DNA, which is the only form stable in aqueous solution, can be studied by dielectric measurements. Here, the dielectric responses of DNA molecules in the A- and B-form, oriented co-linearly within fibres assembled in a film have been analyzed. The dielectric dispersion, permittivity and dissipation factor, have been measured as a function of frequency, strength voltage, time, temperature and nature of the counter-ions. Besides a high electrode polarization component, two relaxation peaks have been observed and fitted by two Cole-Cole relaxation terms. In the frequency range that we investigated (0.1 Hz to 5 ·10(6) Hz) the dielectric properties are dominated by the mobility and diffusivity of the counter-ions and their interactions with the DNA molecules, which can therefore be characterized for the A- and B-forms of DNA.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA, A-Form / chemistry
  • DNA, B-Form / chemistry
  • Dielectric Spectroscopy
  • Electric Impedance
  • Ions
  • Lithium
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Sodium
  • Temperature

Substances

  • DNA, A-Form
  • DNA, B-Form
  • Ions
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • DNA
  • Lithium
  • Sodium