[Compact form of DNA in solution. X. Peculiarities of circular dichroism spectra of DNA compact particles forming polyethylene glycol-containing water-salt solutions].

The experimental data indicating that the amplitude of the negative band in CD spectra of DNA compact particles forming in PEG-containing water-salt solutions intensifies with the decrease of DNA molecular weight are presented. This effect is not explained by the light scattering on the compact particles. The presence of the negative band in CD spectrum of DNA compact particles is interpreted as result of formation of dichrographic-active "microcrystalline" region ("domains") (if DNA compact particles are formed from double-stranded molecules with unaltered secondary structure); it is also supposed that the number of these regions in the particle and their dichrographic activity doesn't depend on the particles size. This interpretation is in agreement with experimental data on the increase of the number of compact particles with the decrease of DNA molecular weight. Proportionality coefficient in the linear dependence of the amplitude of negative band on the size of DNA compact particles in solution depends apparently on dichrographic activity of "microcrystalline" regions, and this activity is connected with structural peculiarities of initial DNA molecules.