Contributions of the distance-dependent reorganization energy and proton-transfer to the hole-transfer process in DNA

A kinetic study of the single-step hole transfer in DNA was performed by measuring time-resolved transient absorption. DNA molecules with various sequences were designed and conjugated with naphthalimide (NI) and phenothiazine (PTZ) to investigate the sequence and distance dependence of the single-step hole transfer between guanines (Gs). Hole injection into DNA was accomplished by excitation of the NI site with a 355 nm laser pulse, and the kinetics of the hole-transfer process were investigated by monitoring the transient absorption of the PTZ radical cation (PTZ.+). Kinetic analysis of the time profile of PTZ.+ based on the kinetic model showed that the distance dependence of the hole-transfer process was significantly influenced by the DNA sequence. Results of temperature- and isotope-effect experiments demonstrated that the activation energy increased as the number of bridge bases separating the Gs increased. This is because of the distance-dependent reorganization energy and contribution of the proton-transfer process to the hole transfer in DNA.