Conformationally Gated Charge Transfer in DNA Three-Way Junctions

Yuqi Zhang, Ryan M. Young, Arun K. Thazhathveetil, Arunoday P N Singh, Chaoren Liu, Yuri A. Berlin, Ferdinand C. Grozema, Frederick D. Lewis, Mark A. Ratner*, Nicolas Renaud, Khatcharin Siriwong, Alexander A. Voityuk, Michael R. Wasielewski, David N. Beratan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Molecular structures that direct charge transport in two or three dimensions possess some of the essential functionality of electrical switches and gates. We use theory, modeling, and simulation to explore the conformational dynamics of DNA three-way junctions (TWJs) that may control the flow of charge through these structures. Molecular dynamics simulations and quantum calculations indicate that DNA TWJs undergo dynamic interconversion among well stacked conformations on the time scale of nanoseconds, a feature that makes the junctions very different from linear DNA duplexes. The studies further indicate that this conformational gating would control charge flow through these TWJs, distinguishing them from conventional (larger size scale) gated devices. Simulations also find that structures with polyethylene glycol linking groups (extenders) lock conformations that favor CT for 25 ns or more. The simulations explain the kinetics observed experimentally in TWJs and rationalize their transport properties compared with double-stranded DNA.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2434-2438
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Volume6
Issue number13
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2 2015

Keywords

  • DNA
  • conformational gating
  • electron transfer
  • nucleic acids
  • three-way junctions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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