What are the main factors that can affect DNA stability in solution?

The main factors that affect DNA stability in solution are: size, charge, concentration of the cation, temperature, pH, solvent type, ionic strength, and concentration. DNA is not stable at room temperature for long periods of time due to degradation by nucleobases and chemical instability. Magnesium and calcium have been found to increase the melting temperature of DNA, and thus were found to be the most effective ions for stabilizing DNA in solution. The larger the cations, the less effect it will have on the DNA since larger ions cannot cluster around the backbone as effectively as smaller cations can. It is also known that higher concentrations of guanine and cytosine bonds are able to also effectively stabilize DNA in solution due to them having 3 hydrogen bonds instead of two. DNA is most stable in solution at a neutral pH range of 5 to 9. If the pH becomes too alkaline or acidic, the molecules may start to destabilize. At pH lower than 5, DNA can be affected by depurination.