Electron Transfer in DNA at Electrified Interfaces

The ability of the DNA double helix to transport electrons underlies many life‐centered biological processes and bio‐electronic applications. However, there is little consensus on how efficiently the base pair π‐stacks of DNA mediate electron transport. This minireview scrutinizes the current state‐of‐the‐art knowledge on electron transfer (ET) properties of DNA and its long‐range ability to transfer (mediate) electrical signals at electrified interfaces, without being oxidized or reduced. Complex changes an electric field induces in the DNA structure and its electronic properties govern the efficiency of DNA‐mediated ET at electrodes and allow addressing the existing phenomenological riddles, while recently discovered rectifying properties of DNA contribute both to our understanding of DNA′s ET in living systems and to advances in molecular bioelectronics.     

Charge Transfer through the DNA Base Stack

Whether the DNA base pair stack might serve as a medium for efficient, long-range charge transfer has been debated almost since the first proposal of the double-helical structure of DNA. The consequences of long-range radical migration through DNA are important with respect to understanding carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. Double-helical DNA has in its core a stacked array of aromatic heterocyclic base pairs, and this molecular π stack represents a unique system in which to explore the chemistry of electron transfer. We designed a family of metal complexes which bind to DNA by intercalative stacking within the helix; these metallointercalators may be usefully applied in probing DNA-mediated electron transfer. Here we describe a range of electron transfer reactions we carried out which are mediated by the DNA base paired stack. In some cases, DNA serves as a bridge, and spectroscopic analyses permit us to probe how the π stack couples DNA-bound donors and acceptors. These studies point to the sensitivity of coupling to DNA intercalation. However, if the DNA π stack effectively bridges donors and acceptors, the base-pair stack itself might serve not only as a conduit for electron transfer in DNA, but also in reactions initiated from a remote position. We carried out a series of reactions involving oxidative damage to DNA arising from the remotely positioned oxidant on the helix. The implications of long-range charge migration through DNA to effect damage are substantial. As in other DNA-mediated charge transfers, these reactions are highly dependent on DNA intercalation and the integrity of the intervening base-pair stack, but not on molecular distance. Furthermore, a physiologically important DNA lesion, the thymine dimers, can be reversed in a reaction initiated by electron transfer. This repair reaction can also be promoted from a distance as a result of long-range charge migration through the DNA base pair stack.     

Phase Transfer of Gold Metallized DNA

We report a simple solution based method for the gold (Au) metallization of DNA resulting in a Au nanowire network. Advantage of solution based approach is that it allows the removal of excess gold (Au⁺³) ions by extraction with tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) in order to avoid non specific metallization. Further it has been shown that Au metallized DNA obtained in aqueous phase can be transferred to organic phase using hexadecyl aniline (HDA). Au metallized DNA has potential application in nanoscale devices.     

DNA的长程电子传递特性研究的现状

本文介绍了关于DNA长程电子传递的两种不同观点－－DNA分子导线机制和类蛋白 的电子传递机制及理论研究的结果，并简单地介绍了实验体系的设计和研究方法，对近十多年来DNA长程电子传递的研究工作进行了综述。     

DNA内电子传递特性的研究现状*

DNA是生物体中储存和传递遗传信息的重要物质。双链DNA分子中碱基对的紧密堆积为电子传递提供了有利条件,DNA内的电子转移与许多生物学功能密切相关,可能诱发遗传信息的错读和引起DNA损伤,导致细胞的突变和癌变。本文介绍了DNA电子传递的多种可能机理,就DNA电子传递的各种理论模型进行了讨论,详细介绍了实验体系的设计和研究方法,分析了各种影响电子传递的因素,对近10多年来DNA电子传递的研究工作进行了综述。     

Long-Range Electron Transfer through DNA Films

Regardless of its position within the DNA film , cross-linked daunomycin (DM) is efficiently reduced electrochemically, indicating that the electron transfer exhibits a shallow distance dependence. Upon the introduction of an intervening cytosine–adenine (CA) mismatch, the electrochemical response is dramatically attenuated (shown schematically). Therefore, the DNA double helix can facilitate long-range electron transfer, but only in the presence of a well-stacked pathway.     

On the Mechanism of Long-Range Electron Transfer through DNA

Hopping between bases of similar redox potentials is the mechanism by which charge transport occurs through DNA. This was shown by rate measurements performed with double strands 1 – 3 . This mechanism explains why hole transfer displays a strong sequence dependence, and postulates that electron transfer in unperturbed DNA should not be dependent on the sequence.     

金/铜纳米异质界面的电荷转移等离激元调控

金属纳米结构由于其独特的局域表面等离激元共振现象而倍受关注,对催化、传感、纳米医学以及光学器件等具有重要意义.电荷转移等离激元共振强烈依赖于纳米单元间的导电结点,可产生频率连续可调的共振光吸收和光散射,为获得高度局域化的增强光磁场和光热效应提供了可能.然而,受制于已有构筑手段和有限的结构种类,相关研究仍处于初级阶段.针对此,本工作发展了一种十分简单、有效的Au/Cu纳米异质结点调控策略,利用廉价易得的天然DNA分子在金纳米粒子“种子”表面发生非特异性吸附,有效控制铜在金表面发生异相成核时的相间接触面积,得到导电结点宽度连续可调的电荷转移纳米粒子二聚体.实验光谱和理论模拟显示,结点宽度、铜和金纳米粒子的尺寸是决定电荷转移等离激元性质的重要参数,其分别可由DNA吸附量、Cu²⁺加入量和金纳米粒子尺寸加以控制,进而实现共振波长在可见至近红外区的宽广调节.通过与其它吸附分子对比证明了DNA吸附调控模式的独特性.这种具有可调控导电结点的双金属纳米异质界面为实现电荷转移等离激元共振与催化和传感等功能的集成以及相关应用探索奠定了重要基础.     

DNA内电子传递机制的研究进展

本文从电化学、光电化学和光化学三个方面,对近年来DNA内电子传递机制的研究进展进行了综述。介绍了DNA内电子传递机制的研究现状,并探讨了今后的研究方向。     

Electron Transfer through DNA in the Course of Radical-Induced Strand Cleavage

No benefit from base stacking is observed for rates of electron transfer in DNA. This conclusion was drawn from experiments with a new DNA assay in which a radical cationic site, generated by strand cleavage, can be reduced by the guanine bases in the same DNA (the electron transfer is indicated by arrows in the diagram). The distance dependence of this electron transfer step is determined by the chemical yield of the reduction product.     

Duplex Stabilization and Energy Transfer in Zipper Porphyrin–DNA

Zip it up : Attachment of porphyrins onto complementary DNA strands leads to zipper‐porphyrin arrays and, in the presence of eleven modifications, an increase in the melting temperature of the duplex. Mixed zinc and free‐base porphyrin arrays undergo energy transfer from the zinc porphyrin to the free‐base porphyrin in the annealed duplex but not in the denatured form (see scheme), giving access to reversible formation of potential photonic wires.

     

双链DNA分子内电荷转移超交换机理

设计并合成了一系列寡聚核苷酸组成的双链DNA分子,通过检测样品中二氨基嘌呤(Ap)荧光峰强度和相对荧光量子产率来研究DNA分子内电荷转移.实验中直接分辨和观测到双链DNA分子内电荷转移超交换机理,超交换机理在近距离起作用；而电荷转移跳跃机理,可能是通过极子运动形式体现.     

基于共轭高分子复合物能量转移的非标记DNA检测

非标记DNA检测是一种高灵敏度、高选择性的DNA检测方法, 具有重要的科学和社会意义. 本文采用交叉偶联法制备了水溶性阳离子共轭聚合物: 聚(9,9-双(6'-N,N,N-三甲胺盐-己烷基)-芴亚苯基)(PFP); 利用氧化加成聚合反应制备了水溶性阴离子共轭聚合物: 聚(3-噻吩乙酸钠)(P3TSA). 通过核磁共振氢谱(¹H NMR)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)等对其结构进行了表征. PFP与P3TSA通过静电相互作用形成稳定的高分子复合物. 利用紫外-可见光谱(UV-vis)和荧光发射光谱证明共轭高分子复合物能够发生能量转移. 保持PFP的浓度不变, 高分子复合物能量转移效率(ETEF)随着P3TSA浓度的增加而逐渐增大. 选取ETEF较高的样品, 考察了DNA探针用量对高分子复合物ETEF的影响. 随着DNA探针浓度的增加, ETEF逐渐减弱. 最后, 利用0.2 nmol DNA探针进行了DNA杂交配对检测. 实验结果表明, 这种检测方法可以明显区分完全互补配对、双碱基错配和非完全互补配对的目标DNA. 简而言之, 我们成功发展了一种基于共轭高分子复合物能量转移、具有高选择性的非标记DNA检测方法.     

One Way Traffic: Base-to-Backbone Hole Transfer in Nucleoside Phosphorodithioate

The directionality of the hole-transfer processes between DNA backbone and base was investigated by using phosphorodithioate [P(S⁻)=S] components. ESR spectroscopy in homogeneous frozen aqueous solutions and pulse radiolysis in aqueous solution at ambient temperature confirmed initial formation of G^.+-P(S⁻)=S. The ionization potential of G-P(S⁻)=S was calculated to be slightly lower than that of guanine in 5′-dGMP. Subsequent thermally activated hole transfer from G^.+ to P(S⁻)=S led to dithiyl radical (P-2S^.) formation on the μs timescale. In parallel, ESR spectroscopy, pulse radiolysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed P-2S^. formation in an abasic phosphorodithioate model compound. ESR investigations at low temperatures and higher G-P(S⁻)=S concentrations showed a bimolecular conversion of P-2S^. to the σ²-σ*¹-bonded dimer anion radical [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ [ΔG (150 K, DFT)=−7.2 kcal mol⁻¹]. However, [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ formation was not observed by pulse radiolysis [ΔG° (298 K, DFT)=−1.4 kcal mol⁻¹]. Neither P-2S^. nor [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ oxidized guanine base; only base-to-backbone hole transfer occurs in phosphorodithioate.     

Generation of the Thymine Triplet State by Through-Bond Energy Transfer

Benzophenone (BP) and drugs containing the BP chromophore, such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen, have been widely reported as DNA photosensitizers through triplet–triplet energy transfer (TTET). In the present work, a direct spectroscopic fingerprint for the formation of the thymine triplet (³Thy*) by through-bond (TB) TTET from ³BP* has been uncovered. This has been achieved in two new systems that have been designed and synthesized with one BP and one thymine (Thy) covalently linked to the two ends of the rigid skeleton of the natural bile acids cholic and lithocholic acid. The results shown here prove that it is possible to achieve triplet energy transfer to a Thy unit even when the photosensitizer is at a long (nonbonding) distance.