DNA AFFINITY TO BIOLOGICAL-MEMBRANES IS ENHANCED DUE TO COMPLEXATION WITH HYDROPHOBIZED POLYCATION

The interaction of negatively charged liquid phosphatidylcholine/cardi olipin liposomes with water-soluble negatively charged DNA/cetylpyridi nium bromide and DNA/poly(N-alkyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) complexes was studied, It is shown that the DNA/cetylpyridiniun bromide complex while interacting with the liposomes is destroyed, so that the cetylp yridinium cation is incorporated into the liposomal membrane and DNA r emains in the solution, The DNA/poly-(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromid e) complex does not interact at all with the liposomes, On the contrar y, the complex of DNA with the poly(vinylpyridinium) cation carrying a small amount of N-cetyl groups is adsorbed on the membrane as a whole , The data obtained indicate that complexation of DNA with hydrophobiz ed polycations can be used for enhancing DNA affinity to biological me mbranes.