Natural Polymer Genomics: Phosphate-induced Self-Assembly of Polyamines

Polyamines are linear polycations involved in many biological functions. We found that, in the cell nucleus, polyamines self-assemble with phosphate ions and generate three forms of compounds, the Nuclear Aggregates of Polyamines (NAPs) that, self-structuring in nanotube-like supramolecular polymers, wrap the genomic DNA. In an in vitro setting that mimics the nuclear environment, the assembly of polyamines and phosphates occurs within well-defined ratios, independent of the presence of the DNA template. Strict structural and functional analogies exist between the in vitro NAPs and their cellular homologues. Important aspects of DNA physiology, such as conformation, protection and packaging, have been connected to these compounds. Therefore, we propose their categorization as "natural" polymer genomics agents.