Stepwise evolution of the structure and electronic properties of DNA.
The optical properties of a family of duplex DNA conjugates possessing from 1 to 11 A:T base pairs and covalently attached stilbene chromophores at both ends have been investigated. As few as from two to four base bairs are needed to establish base-pair absorption and circular dichroism spectra similar to those of longer oligomers. The stilbene chromophores exhibit exciton-coupled circular dichroism, which can be observed even with 11 intervening base pairs, a distance of ca. 40 A. The dependence of the sign and amplitude of these spectra reveals the ability of B-DNA to serve as a helical ruler.
Lewis
Frederick D
FD
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3113, USA. lewis@chem.northwestern.edu
Liu
Xiaoyang
X
Wu
Yansheng
Y
Zuo
Xiaobing
X
D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D011061:Poly A / Q000737:chemistry; D011071:Poly T / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000737:chemistry
D009841:Oligonucleotides; D013267:Stilbenes; D011061:Poly A; D011071:Poly T; C008950:poly A-T; D004247:DNA