title: Insulating behavior of lambda-DNA on the micron scale.
abstract: We have investigated the electrical conductivity of lambda-DNA using DNA covalently bonded to Au electrodes. Thiol-modified dTTP was incorporated into the "sticky" ends of bacteriophage lambda-DNA using DNA polymerase. Two-probe measurements on such molecules provide a hard lower bound for the resistivity rho>10(6)Omega cm at bias potentials up to 20 V, in conflict with recent claims of moderate to high conductivity. By direct imaging, we show that the molecules are present after the measurements. We stress the importance of eliminating salt residues in these measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraeft
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004566:Electrodes; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006046:Gold