Analytical Sciences

M-DNA: a Self-Assembling Molecular Wire for Nanoelectronics and Biosensing

Shawn D. WETTIG,* Chen-Zhong LI,*^,** Yi-Tao LONG,*^,** Heinz-Bernhard KRAATZ,**  and Jeremy S. LEE* 

*Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 107, Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5 Canada
**Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 110, Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5C9 Canada

M-DNA is a complex between divalent metal ions such as Zn²⁺ and duplex DNA which forms at pH 8.5. Unlike B-DNA, M-DNA does not bind ethidium so that M-DNA formation can be monitored conveniently by an ethidium fluorescence assay. M-DNA was shown to be a better conductor than B-DNA by fluorometric measurements of electron transport in donor-acceptor labelled duplexes; by direct conductivity measurements of M-DNA bound between gold electrodes and by cyclic voltammetric studies on ferrocene labelled duplexes attached to gold microelectrodes. As is the case with B-DNA, M-DNA can self-assemble into a variety of structures and is anticipated to find widespread use in nanoelectronics and biosensing.

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