Why Na+ has higher propensity than K+ to condense DNA in a crowded environment.
E. S. Kolesnikov, I. Y. Guschin, P. A. Zhilyaev, A. V. Onufriev
The paper explains why Na+ ions compact DNA more than K+ in crowded environments using simulations and ion binding models, showing Na+ forms more external shells and has lower aggregation free energy.
bioRxiv · May 15, 2023Biophysics