DNA is negatively charged due to its phosphate backbone
DNA possesses a net negative charge primarily originating from the phosphate groups present along its backbone structure.
Multiple papers explicitly support the fact that the DNA backbone is negatively charged due to its phosphate groups, with no conflicting evidence found in the provided literature.
Yuan Liu, Taotao Li, Chuxuan Ling, Zunliang Wang, Lian Jin, Yongxiang Zhao, Zhu Chen, Song Li, Yan Deng, N. He. A simple visual method for DNA detection based on the formation of gold nanoparticles. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cclet.2019.10.033
Paper 0 confirms that double-stranded DNA presents a negative charge due to its exposed phosphate backbone.
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E. F. Silva, U. Andrade, K. M. de Oliveira, A. Teixeira, M. S. Rocha. Dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactant effects on DNA: Unraveling the competition between electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions.. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.102.032401
Paper 4 discusses the electrostatic attraction between cationic surfactants and the negative phosphate backbone of DNA.
Arakawa T, Oyama T, Ura T, Nishinami S, Shiraki K, Akuta T. Differences and Similarities in Protein and Nucleic Acid Structures and Their Biological Interactions.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47121019
Paper 7 notes explicitly that the nucleic acid backbone is negatively charged owing to its phosphate groups.
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