title: DNA triplex-mediated assembly of polyaromatic chromophores.
abstract: The synthesis and characterization of intramolecular triple-helical DNA structures containing polyaromatic pyrene and perylene (perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimide, PDI) building blocks are presented. Two 1,8-dialkynylpyrene units are located in the Watson-Crick stem of the construct, while a PDI or a natural thymidine is present in the Hoogsteen strand. The triple helical structures were investigated by UV/VIS absorbance, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism (CD) measurements. The folding of the intramolecular triple helix can be monitored by changes in the vibronic transition ratios, as well as by a change in the alkynylpyrene fluorescence (monomer vs. excimer). It is shown that thymine in the third strand has a pronounced influence on the interaction and, thus, on the fluorescence properties of two pyrene building blocks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Biner
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Häner
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005453:Fluorescence; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010569:Perylene / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D011721:Pyrenes; C051802:triplex DNA; D010569:Perylene; D004247:DNA; C030984:pyrene