SAXS Signals from Double-Stranded DNA under Shear-Flow Conditions

Abstract

SAXS signals from the DNA of salmon spermatozoa in an aqueous solution were analyzed using a rheometer-device, which controlled the rate of shearing during SAXS observations. When shearing rate > 1000 s⁻¹ was applied to the DNA suspension, DNA strands were not aligned as observed with other biological filaments, but a stable diffraction peak approximately ranging 1.7–1.8 [nm⁻¹] of Q-values were observed. We compared our observation with simulated SAXS signals.