Curvature-induced base pair "slipping" effects in DNA-nanoparticle hybridization.
Experiments are presented that suggest DNA strands chemically immobilized on gold nanoparticle surfaces can engage in two types of hybridization: one that involves complementary strands and normal base pairing interactions and a second one assigned as a "slipping" interaction, which can additionally stabilize the aggregate structures through non-Watson-Crick type base pairing or interactions less complementary than the primary interaction. The curvature of the particles appears to be a major factor that contributes to the formation of these slipping interactions as evidenced by the observation that flat gold triangular nanoprism conjugates of the same sequence do not support them. Finally, these slipping interactions significantly stabilize nanoparticle aggregate structures, leading to large increases in T(m)'s and effective association constants as compared with free DNA and particles that do not have the appropriate sequence to maximize their contribution.
Hill
Haley D
HD
Department of Chemistry and International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3113, USA.
Hurst
Sarah J
SJ
Mirkin
Chad A
CA
D020029:Base Pairing; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D004247:DNA