title: Using a microcantilever array for detecting phase transitions and stability of DNA.
abstract: The authors report the extension of the microcantilever platform to study the thermal phase transition of biomolecules as they are heated. Microcantilever-based sensors directly translate changes in Gibbs free energy due to macromolecular interactions into mechanical responses. The authors observed surface stress changes in response to thermal dehybridization of double-stranded DNA oligonucleotides that are attached onto one side of a microcantilever. Once the cantilever is heated, the DNA undergoes a transition as the complementary strand melts, which results in changes in the cantilever deflection. This deflection is due to changes in the electrostatic, ionic, and hydration interaction forces between the remaining immobilized DNA strands. This new technique has allowed the authors to probe DNA melting dynamics and leads to a better understanding of the stability of DNA complexes on surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 6100 Main Street MS 362, Houston, TX 77005, USA. biswal@rice.edu <biswal@rice.edu>
authors.forename: Sibani Lisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Biswal
authors.forename: Digvijay
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raorane
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaiken
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majumdar
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D044367:Phase Transition; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004247:DNA