title: M-DNA: A complex between divalent metal ions and DNA which behaves as a molecular wire.
abstract: M-DNA is a complex of DNA with divalent metal ions (Zn(2+), Co(2+), or Ni(2+)) which forms at pH conditions above 8. Upon addition of these metal ions to B-DNA at pH 8.5, the pH decreases such that one proton is released per base-pair per metal ion. Together with previous NMR data, this result demonstrated that the imino proton in each base-pair of the duplex was substituted by a metal ion and that M-DNA might possess unusual conductive properties. Duplexes of 20 base-pairs were constructed with fluorescein (donor) at one end and rhodamine (acceptor) at the other. Upon formation of M-DNA (with Zn(2+)) the fluorescence of the donor was 95 % quenched. Fluorescence lifetime measurements showed the presence of a very fast component in the decay kinetics with tau</=10 ps. The fast component was absent in B-DNA and in M-DNA lacking an acceptor chromophore; a result which is only consistent with electron transfer. Efficient signal transduction was also observed between the two fluorophores separated by 54 base-pairs (over 150 A) in an M-DNA duplex. The addition of a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein prevented the flow of electrons and this was reversed by protease digestion. Therefore, M-DNA behaves as a molecular wire and could be manipulated to prepare self-assembling electronic circuits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aich
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Labiuk
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Tari
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Delbaere
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Roesler
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Steer
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000737:chemistry; D005453:Fluorescence; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009692:Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes; D011522:Protons; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D009692:Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes; D011522:Protons; D012235:Rhodamines; D003035:Cobalt; D009532:Nickel; D004247:DNA; D004492:Edetic Acid; D015032:Zinc; D019793:Fluorescein