Conformational changes of a DNA molecule induced by metal complexes formed in solution

Changes in the tertiary structure of a high-molecular-mass DNA in solution that result from the addition of trivalent lanthanum ions, including intramolecular structuring of the macromolecule, are studied by atomic-force microscopy. The effect of bivalent magnesium and manganese ions on the structure of DNA in an aqueous-alcohol solution is analyzed. The data are compared with the results of viscometry, dynamic light scattering, flow birefringence, circular dichroism, and UV spectrophotometry.