Structure of DNA cholesteric spherulitic droplet dispersions

Abstract

The aggregation of short (294-base-pair) linear double-stranded DNA molecules into cholesteric spherulitic droplets in a brine solution of polyethylene glycol has been studied using polarized light microscopy. The DNA concentration within the droplet is found to be constant and therefore the cholesteric pitch is independent of the total DNA concentration. The size of the droplets grows as a power law of the total concentration of DNA. The exponent of the power law relation is calculated using a progressive nucleation and growth model. The exponent is found to be equal to two-thirds and is in good agreement with the experimental data. By analysing fields of spherulitic droplets at low magnification using either hydrophobic or hydrophilic slides and cover-slips, we demonstrate that the positions of the droplets are correlated in solution. The long range correlation between the droplets indicates some kinetic arrest of the phase separating solution that may have been induced by the finite size of the system.