Observation of a rectangular columnar phase in a DNA-calcium-zwitterionic lipid complex

In the presence of calcium, DNA and unilamellar liposomes of the zwitterionic lipid DPPC form a complex in which DNA strands are embedded between a lamellar phase of DPPC. In some complexes, in-plane alignment of the DNA strands occurs, where a DNA-DNA interaxial distance can be measured using small-angle X-ray scattering. Here we report a higher level of DNA organization, with a rectangular columnar phase of DNA identified within this complex structure. This observation is important in view of recent interests in creating new synthetic systems at the interface of biology.