The interaction of acridine dyes with the densely packed DNA of bacteriophage.

The interactions of acridine dyes with intact phage DNA differ from those with extracted DNA in the following respects. Strong binding (intercalation) is greatly reduced in intact phage but probably not eliminated. The cooperative, weak binding is stronger and the stacking tendency is increased. In gels of DNA the stacking tendency is seen to increase with decreasing hydration. These influences of the dense packing of DNA must be taken into account when using basic dyes to study chromosome structure.