Structure of DNA-CTAB-hexanol complexes

Abstract

We have probed structures of the complexes formed by DNA with the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in the presence of the cosurfactant hexanol, using small angle X-ray diffraction techniques. They are found to exhibit a hexagonal→lamellar→hexagonal transition with increasing hexanol content. Quantitative analysis of the diffraction data shows that the complexes formed at low hexanol concentrations have an intercalated hexagonal (H_I) structure, whereas those formed at higher hexanol content have an inverted hexagonal (H_II) structure.