Investigation of various structures of DNA molecules (III)
Investigation of various structures of DN A molecules (Ⅲ)—Coil-globe transition of λ-DNA induced by cationic surfactant

The structure transition of λ-DNA induced by cationic surfactant cellar media was investigated by using CD, SEM and AFM. The experimental data of CD revealed that λ-DNA can be induced from B-form to a collapsed structure with the addition of the cationic surfactant CTAB to the system. The condensed process of λ-DNA from coil state to small globular state (diameter about 1.25 μm) and finally big globular state (diameter about 5.4 μm) was observed by using SEM and AFM. Project supported by the Ninth Five-Year Great and Important Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and National Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China.