Biomolecule-based switching devices that respond inversely to thermal stimuli.
We demonstrate a molecular switch, on the basis of the characteristic properties of DNA and RNA, which indicates a completely inverted response to thermal stimuli using the transition between right- and left-handed helices. We designed a system using aminopurine (Ap), which can convert the pi-stack information of the transition from right-handed to left-handed DNA (B-Z transition) and RNA (A-Z transition) into an output giving a fluorescent signal. These two biomolecular devices together serve as "right-left" or "off-on" switches. When the temperature is changed from low to high, the RNA device changes from the off to on signal; however, the DNA device changes from on to off. The response of these RNA and DNA based devices against thermal stimulus was completely reversible.
Tashiro
Ryu
R
Division of Biofunctional Molecules, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Surugadai, Kanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan.
Sugiyama
Hiroshi
H
D001483:Base Sequence; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*
D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA