title: Micrometer-sized DNA-single-fluorophore-DNA supramolecule: synthesis and single-molecule characterization.
abstract: The synthesis of single-fluorophore-bis(micrometer-sized DNA) triblock supramolecules and the optical and structural characterization of the construct at the single-molecule level is reported. A fluorophore-bis(oligodeoxynucleotide) triblock is synthesized via the amide-coupling reaction. Subsequent protocols of DNA hybridization/ligation are developed to form the supramolecular triblock structure with lambda-DNA fragments on the micrometer length scale. The successful synthesis of the micrometer-sized DNA-single-fluorophore-DNA supramolecule is confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis with fluorescence imaging under UV excitation. Single triblock structures are directly imaged by combined scanning force microscopy and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, and provide unambiguous confirmation of the existence of the single fluorophore inserted in the middle of the long DNA. This type of triblock structure is a step closer to providing a scaffold for single-molecule electronic devices after metallization of the DNAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5080, USA.
authors.forename: Jungkyu K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jäckel
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Moerner
authors.forename: Zhenan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D004247:DNA