title: M-DNA: a self-assembling molecular wire for nanoelectronics and biosensing.
abstract: M-DNA is a complex between divalent metal ions such as Zn2+ and duplex DNA which forms at pH 8.5. Unlike B-DNA, M-DNA does not bind ethidium so that M-DNA formation can be monitored conveniently by an ethidium fluorescence assay. M-DNA was shown to be a better conductor than B-DNA by fluorometric measurements of electron transport in donor-acceptor labelled duplexes; by direct conductivity measurements of M-DNA bound between gold electrodes and by cyclic voltammetric studies on ferrocene labelled duplexes attached to gold microelectrodes. As is the case with B-DNA, M-DNA can self-assemble into a variety of structures and is anticipated to find widespread use in nanoelectronics and biosensing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 107, Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5 Canada.
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wettig
authors.forename: Chen-Zhong
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Heinz-Bernhard
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kraatz
authors.forename: Jeremy S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation
chemical_list: D004247:DNA