We studied the effectiveness of trilysine (Lys(3)), tetralysine (Lys(4)), pentalysine (Lys(5)), and poly-L-lysine (PLL) (MW 50000) on lambda-DNA nanoparticle formation and characterized the size, shape, and stability of nanoparticles. Light scattering experiments showed EC50 (lysine concentration at 50% DNA compaction) values of similar to 0.0036, 2, and 20 mu mol/L, respectively, for PLL, Lys(5), and Lys(4) at 10 mM [Na+]. Plots of log EC50 versus log [Na+] showed positive slopes of 1.09 and 1.7, respectively, for Lys(4) and Lys(5) and a negative slope of -0.1 for PLL. Hydrodynamic radii of oligolysine condensed particles increased (48-173 nm) with increasing [Na+], whereas no significant change occurred to nanoparticles formed with PLL. There was an increase in the size of nanoparticles formed with Lys(5) at > 40 degrees C, whereas no such change occurred with PLL. The DNA melting temperature increased with oligolysine concentration. These results indicate distinct differences in the mechanism(s) by which oligolysines and PLL provoke DNA condensation to nanoparticles.