title: Spectroscopic properties of pyrene-containing DNA mimics.
abstract: DNA mimics containing non-nucleosidic pyrene building blocks are described. The modified oligomers form stable hybrids, although a slight reduction in hybrid stability is observed in comparison to the unmodified DNA duplex. The nature of the interaction between the pyrene residues in single and double stranded oligomers is analyzed spectroscopically. Intra- and interstrand stacking interactions of pyrenes are monitored by UV-absorbance as well as fluorescence spectroscopy. Excimer formation is observed in both single and double strands. In general, intrastrand excimers show fluorescence emission at shorter wavelengths (approx. 5-10 nm) than excimers formed by interstrand interactions. The existence of two different forms of excimers (intra- vs. interstrand) is also revealed in temperature dependent UV-absorbance spectra.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samain
authors.forename: Vladimir L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Malinovskii
authors.forename: Simon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Langenegger
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Häner
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D011721:Pyrenes; D004247:DNA; C030984:pyrene