[Restructuring of the spatial organization of circular DNA molecules in liquid crystal dispersions].

The change in the spatial structure of superhelical and nicked DNA molecules in liquid-crystalline dispersions under micrococcal nuclease treatment was studied. Micrococcal nuclease digestion leads to restructuring from the "nonspecific" packing of circular DNA in dispersion particles to the cholesteric one. The transition is described by the Kolmogorov-Avramy equation; however, the parameters of the equation are essentially different for the different topological forms of circular DNA. The liquid-crystalline state of DNA expands the range of the solvent properties (ionic conditions etc.) under which the micrococcal nuclease action remain highly efficient.