Stepwise DNA condensation by a histone-mimic peptide-coated M12L24 spherical complex

A nanosized M12L24 coordination sphere mimicking a histone-octamer, in size and charge density, was studied as an artificial DNA compaction core. It triggered a stepwise condensation process in a similar manner to that of the natural system. “Beads-on-a-string” and “multistrand aggregation” intermediates were clearly observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies during the condensation process.