Branchpoint expansion in a fully complementary three-way DNA junction

Branched nucleic acid molecules serve as key intermediates in DNA replication, recombination, and repair; architectural elements in RNA; and building blocks and functional components for nanoscience applications. Using a combination of high-resolution single-molecule FRET, time-resolved spectroscopy, and molecular modeling, we have probed the local and global structure of a DNA three-way junction (3WJ) in solution. We found that it adopts a Y-shaped, pyramidal structure, in which the bases adjacent to the branchpoint are unpaired, despite the full Watson-Crick complementarity of the molecule. The unpairing allows a nanoscale cavity to form at the junction center. Our structure accounts for earlier observations made of the structure, flexibility, and reactivity of 3WJs. We anticipate that these results will guide the development of new DNA-based supramolecular receptors and nanosystems.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of carbonyls. Bicyclo[2.2.1]-heptane-2,3-diones and bicyclo [2.2.1] hept-5-ene-2,3-diones

The HeI photoelectron spectra (UPS) of several bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2,3-diones and bicyclo[2.2.1] hept-5-ene-2,3-diones are presented. Interpretations are based on CNDO/s computations and empirical correlations. The n₊ orbital of the two carbonyl groups interacts strongly with, the π orbital of the 5-ene moiety in bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-diones. This interaction is dominantly “through-bond”, there being little or no direct (i.e. “through-space”) overlap. The net result is that insertion of 5-ene unsaturation increases the splitting of the n₊ and n_? orbitals from ca. 1.9 to ca. 2.4 eV. Finally, the π* (CO) ← n₊ electronic absorption spectra of the [5-ene] -compounds, which are geometrically suited to an investigation of π/π* (CO) interactions, suggest that such mixing is negligible.     

Solvent effects in dense gases

The effects of perturber gases, partial pressures in the range 0–50 atm, on the absorption spectra of high-n Rydbergs, n ≥ 10, in methyl iodide and benzene have been investigated. The perturbers were rare gases and H₂. It has been shown that the spectroscopic energy shift Δ = Δ(ρ, n) is given by Δ = Δ°ρ, where ρ is the number density of the perturber, for n ≥ 10. The shift data can be interpreted using a Fermi model, and values of scattering lengths for perturbers can be extracted. These scattering lengths are internally consistent, independent of the absorber, and in excellent agreement with electron-swarm results. Given that the Fermi model is nonspecific and microscopic, scattering shifts and lengths for mixtures of perturber gases can be predicted. These predictions, having been verified by experiment for He/Ar mixtures, provide a means of “tailoring” any required scattering length. Finally, it is shown empirically that the determinative scattering parameter is the polarizability of the perturber, and a universal relationship a = ?0.26α + 1.18 between scattering length a, in Bohr radii, and polarizability α is found to exist.     

Electronic transitions in mono-olefinic hydrocarbons

Investigation of the onset of absorption in the spectra of liquid mono-olefins reveals transitions which seem too intense to be of a triplet singlet nature. Comparison with calculated intensities and excitation energies suggests that an R ^*N(*) assignment migth be appropriate.The R(3s)N transitions in the vapor spectra have been re-investigated and f-numbers have been estimated. Comparison with calculated intensities indicates that this transition might gain part of its intensity via vibronic stealing from the VN transition. This mechanism is shown to offer a possible — but by no means unique — explanation for the vibrational structure of the R(3s)N transition of cyclopentene.Self-pressure dependence of the R(3s)N transition in mono-olefins indicates, as do MO calculations, that the 3s Rydberg orbital is neither as diffuse nor as atomic-like as it is usually assumed to be in these molecules.

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Zusammenfassung Die Untersuchung des Absorptionsbeginns in den Spektren flüssiger Monoolefine zeigt Übergänge, die zu intensiv erscheinen, um vom Triplet-Singlet-Typ zu sein. Der Vergleich mit berechneten Intensitäten und Anregungsenergien läßt vermuten, daß eine Zuordnung R ^*N(^*) richtig sein könnte.Die R(3s)N-Übergänge in der Dampfphase wurden untersucht und die f-Werte abgeschätzt. Der Vergleich mit berechneten Intensitäten zeigt, daß dieser Übergang ein Teil seiner Intensität über vibronische Wehcselwirkung vom VN-Übergang gewinnen könnte. Es wird gezeigt, daß dieser Mechanismus eine mögliche — aber keineswegs eindeutige Erklärung für die Schwingungsstruktur des R(3s)N-Übergangs von Cyclopenten darstellt.Die Abhängigkeit des R(3s)N-Übergangs vom Eigendruck in Monoolefinen zeigt, ebenso wie MO-Rechnungen, daß das 3s-Rydberg-Orbital weder so diffus noch so atomartig ist, wie es normalerweise in diesen Moelkülen angenommen wird.

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Résumé L'étude de l'absorption dans les spectres des mono-oléfines liquides révèle des transitions qui semblent trop intêses pour être du type tripletsingulet. La comparaison avec les intensités et les énergies calculées suggère une identification du type R ^*N(*).Les transitions R(3s)N dans le spectre en phase vapeur ont été réétudiées et l'on a évalué les nombres f. La comparaison avec les intensités calculées indique que cette transition acquiert une partie de son intensité par couplage vibronique à partir de la transition VN. Ce mécanisme offre une explication possible — mais certainement pas unique — pour la structure vibrationnelle de la transition R(3s)N du cyclopentene.La dépendance à la pression propre de la transition R(3s)N dans les mono-oléfines indique, comme d'ailleurs les calculs O.M., que l'orbitale Rydberg 3s n'est ni aussi diffuse ni aussi atomique qu'on le suppose d'habitude dans ces molécules.

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Supported by the United States Air Force and The United States Atomic Energy Commission—Biology Branch via Grants to the Louisiana State University.     

Spin-orbit coupling in nitrite ion and nitrite salts

The absorption intensity of the³B₁ ¹A₁ transition of nitrite salts of the non-transition metals is markedly dependent on the metal counterion and is causative of the yellow-orange colors of the heavier-metal salts. It is assumed that spin-orbit coupling is responsible for this phenomenon; this assumption is investigated here using semi-empirical one-electron calculations and is validated. The subjects of covalent bonding in metal salts, charge transfer transitions in such systems and the S _j S ₀ electronic spectroscopy of nitrite salts are also investigated.This work was supported by contracts between the United States Atomic Energy Commission — Biology Branch and the United States Air Force with the Louisiana State University.     

Structural, optical and magnetic properties of Cr doped ZnO microrods prepared by spray pyrolysis method

A series of Cr-doped ZnO micro-rod arrays were fabricated by a spray pyrolysis method. X-ray diffraction patterns of the samples showed that the undoped and Cr-doped ZnO microrods exhibit hexagonal crystal structure. Surface morphology analysis of the samples has revealed that pure ZnO sample has a hexagonal microrod morphology. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies, the Cr 2p3/2 binding energy is found to be 577.3 eV indicating that the electron binding energy of the Cr in ZnO is almost the same as the binding energy of Cr³⁺ states in Cr₂O₃. The optical band gap E_g decreases slightly from 3.26 to 3.15 eV with the increase of actual Cr molar fraction from x = 0.00 to 0.046 in ZnO. Photoluminescence studies at 10 K show that the incorporation of chromium leads to a relative increase of deep level band intensity. It was also observed that Cr doped samples clearly showed ferromagnetic behavior; however, 2.5 at.% Cr doped ZnO showed remnant magnetization higher than that of 1.1 at.% and 4.6 at.% Cr doped samples, while 4.6 at.% Cr doped ZnO samples had a coercive field higher than the other dopings.     

Control of ZnO nanowire arrays by nanosphere lithography (NSL) on laser-produced ZnO substrates

Nanosphere lithography (NSL) is a successful technique for fabricating highly ordered arrays of ZnO nanowires typically on sapphire and GaN substrates. In this work, we investigate the use of thin ZnO films deposited on Si by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) as the substrate. This has a number of advantages over the alternatives above, including cost and potential scalability of production and it removes any issue of inadvertent n-type doping of nanowires by diffusion from the substrate. We demonstrate ordered arrays of ZnO nanowires, on ZnO-coated substrates by PLD, using a conventional NSL technique with gold as the catalyst. The nanowires were produced by vapor phase transport (VPT) growth in a tube furnace system and grew only on the areas pre-patterned by Au. We have also investigated the growth of ZnO nanowires using ZnO catalyst points deposited by PLD through an NSL mask on a bare silicon substrate.