Biophysical studies of the effect of high power ultrasound on the DNA solution

Abstract

Stability and molecular size of the DNA double helical structure were studied on an aqueous solution of DNA after exposure to high power doses of continuous wave ultrasound at frequency of 20 kHz. Thermal transition spectrophotometry (UV-melting), constant-field gel electrophoresis (CFGE), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric properties measurements were used to evaluate the ultrasound-induced changes in the DNA double helical structure. The thermal transition spectrophotometry (UV-melting) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that ultrasound power caused loss of DNA double helical structure and the DNA double strands melting temperature decreased as the ultrasound power increased, indicating a decrease in the stability of the double helical structure of DNA. The constant-field gel electrophoresis (CFGE) results showed that the molecular size of the DNA fragments decreased as the ultrasound power increased. The dielectric data in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 100 kHz for the native DNA showed that dispersion at frequency of about 500 Hz resulted from polarization induced by counterions. The decrease in the dielectric increment indicated a decrease in length of DNA molecule after exposure to ultrasound power.