title: DNA electrochemistry through the base pairs not the sugar-phosphate backbone.
abstract: Using intercalated, covalently bound daunomycin as a redox probe, ground state charge transport in DNA films with a perturbation in base pair stacking was examined in comparison with breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone. While the introduction of one or even two nicks in the sugar-phosphate backbone yields no detectable effect on electron transfer, a CA mismatch significantly attenuates the electron transfer yield. These results confirm that the base pair stack is the pathway for DNA-mediated charge transfer, not the sugar-phosphate backbone.
authors: Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Liu
authors: Jacqueline K
authors: JK
authors: Barton
mesh_terms: D020137:Base Pair Mismatch; D020029:Base Pairing; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000737:chemistry; D004563:Electrochemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013403:Sugar Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013403:Sugar Phosphates; D004247:DNA; D003630:Daunorubicin