A synchrotron radiation X-ray scattering study of aqueous solutions of native DNA

Synchrotron radiation small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to investigate solutions of native DNA at different ionic strengths and temperatures. The mass per unit length, radius of gyration of the cross-section of DNA and apparent second virial coefficient (A₂) were obtained from Zimm plots in the rodlike particle approximation. The values of A₂ obtained in this way are positive and almost constant indicating that the repulsive interactions still influence the scattering patterns at resolutions as high as 5-8 nm. SAXS measurements in continuous temperature scans indicate that the rod approximation is valid over a wide temperature range during DNA melting and confirm that the rodlike-wormlike transition temperature increases with ionic strength.