Dynamic light-scattering studies of DNA. I. The coupling of internal modes with anisotropic translational diffusion in congested solutions

Dynamic light-scattering studies on thermal motions of native DNAs in solution

The basic character of dynamic light-scattering properties of native DNA was investigated on two DNA samples. The degree of non-single exponentiality of photocount correlation functions, C(t), and its dependence on K are quantitatively characterized by two methods. The spectral linewidth, Ts, determined from C(t) exhibits a K dependence near to but significantly different from the prediction for Rouse-Zimm (RZ) chains by Dubois-Violette and De Gennes: It is inferred from data on lambda-DNA that the exponent in the K dependence of the spectral linewidth for native DNA takes a value larger than 3 in the K region corresponding to the 'K3' region for RZ chains. These results are in good agreement with the prediction from the dynamic theory of semiflexible chains presented by one of us (K.S.). The apparent diffusion coefficients are fairly insensitive to DNA concentration and ionic strength at large K. On the other hand, it is indicated that the stiffness of native DNA may vary with temperature even in a temperature range substantially lower than that of melting.

Dynamic light-scattering evidence for the flexibility of native muscle thin filaments

We have obtained clear evidence for the flexibility of native scallop adductor thin filaments by studying the temperature and ionic strength dependence of the average decay constants obtained from intensity fluctuation spectroscopic (IFS) measurements. The low-angle (10-25 degrees ), average decay constants obtained from time autocorrelation functions of scattered light were independent of concentration (0.08-1.3 mg/ml), scaled with the ratio of temperature to solvent viscosity, T/eta, over a range of 4-45 degrees C, and yielded a value for the translational diffusion coefficient of D(T) (5 degrees C) = (1.24 +/- 0.06) x 10(-8) cm(2)/s. From this value and the Broersma relation for rigid rods, we find an average filament length of 1.06 +/- 0.06 mum. Quantitative sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that at high temperatures (> 35 degrees C) or in 0.6 M NaCl, tropomyosin completely dissociates from native thin filaments. Decay constants from high-angle (60-150 degrees C) IFS temperature dependence measurements do not scale with T/eta and hence do not show the temperature dependence expected for rigid rods. The differences are not due to any change in length distribution of filaments with temperature or to the free tropomyosin in solution, but are attributed to nonrigid motions of the filaments. Similar experiments on samples in high- and low-salt solvents gave results consistent with this interpretation.

Dynamic light scattering from solutions of microtubules

Calf brain microtubule protein was assembled in vitro to form dilute solutions of microtubules (240 A diameter) having lengths greater than 1 micrometer. The microtubule solutions were examined by dynamic laser light scattering techniques. The angular dependence of the correlation function leads to the conclusion that the correlation function is measuring the translational diffusion constant of the particles. The length dependence of the correlation function, however, shows that the translational diffusion constant is not being measured and that the diffusion constant for the microtubules cannot be straightforwardly determined. These results suggest that a collective property of the rods is being measured by the laser light scattering. Although specific microtubule-microtubule interactions are a possible explanation for the observed results, we present arguments that suggest that the solution can be adequately modeled as a network of entangled polymers.

Dynamic light scattering of biopolymers and biocolloids

Widespread applications of dynamic light scattering techniques to the study of macromolecular Brownian motion have yielded not only a valuable store of factual information concerning solution conformations and conformational changes, but have also provided an important window through which to view the dynamics of internal modes of motion. These techniques have coincided with a resurgence of interest in the solution physical chemistry of macromolecules, including hydrodynamic properties, and the profound effect of intermolecular interactions on both the disposition and dynamics of macromolecules in solution.