Nanomechanical DNA resonators for sensing and structural analysis of DNA-ligand complexes.

ABSTRACT: The effect of direct or indirect binding of intercalant molecules on DNA structure is of fundamental importance in understanding the biological functioning of DNA. Here we report on self-suspended DNA nanobundles as ultrasensitive nanomechanical resonators for structural studies of DNA-ligand complexes. Such vibrating nanostructures represent the smallest mechanical resonator entirely composed of DNA. A correlative analysis between the mechanical and structural properties is exploited to study the intrinsic changes of double strand DNA, when interacting with different intercalant molecules (YOYO-1 and GelRed) and a chemotherapeutic drug (Cisplatin), at different concentrations. Possible implications of our findings are related to the study of interaction mechanism of a wide category of mol

SUBMITTER: Stassi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6461617 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature