A simple and sensitive assay of nucleic acids based on the enhanced resonance light scattering of zwitterionics

A new assay of nucleic acids at nanogram level was established based on the enhanced resonance light scattering (RLS) signals of two zwitterionics cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (HSB) and lauryl betaine (BS-12). Under optimum conditions, the weak RLS signal of HSB is enhanced by nucleic acids, and the enhanced RLS intensity is proportional to the concentration of nucleic acids in the range of 0.02-7.3 mg l−1 for calf thymus DNA and 0.01-8.6 mg l−1 for fish sperm DNA. The detection limits were 1.5 ng ml−1 for calf thymus DNA and 1.9 ng ml−1 for fish sperm DNA. Plasmid DNA extracted from K-12-HB101 colt was determined with satisfactory results.