title: Tailoring DNA structure to increase target hybridization kinetics on surfaces.
abstract: We report a method for increasing the rate of target hybridization on DNA-functionalized surfaces using a short internal complement DNA (sicDNA) strand. The sicDNA causes up to a 5-fold increase in association rate by inducing a conformational change that extends the DNA away from the surface, making it more available to bind target nucleic acids. The sicDNA-induced kinetic enhancement is a general phenomenon that occurred with all sequences and surfaces investigated. Additionally, the process is selective and can be used in multicomponent systems to controllably and orthogonally "turn on" specific sequences by the addition of the appropriate sicDNA. Finally, we show that sicDNA is compatible with systems used in gene regulation, intracellular detection, and microarrays, suggesting several potential therapeutic, diagnostic, and bioinformatic applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3113, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Prigodich
authors.forename: One-Sun
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Weston L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Dwight S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Seferos
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Chad A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mirkin
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D004247:DNA