STABLE BINDING OF DNA TO ZWITTERIONIC LIPID BILAYERS IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS

We found that DNA molecules bind strongly to zwitterionic dipalmitoylp hosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers in solutions, facilitating in situ i maging with an atomic force microscope. The binding strength has a low er limit of about 2 kT per helical turn with kT the thermal energy at room temperature, The height of membrane-bound DNA is the same as the diameter of DNA, indicating no compression by the tip at a probe force of about 0.1 nN.