Reversible Covalent Stabilization of Stacking Contacts in DNA Assemblies.

ABSTRACT: Stacking bonds formed between two blunt-ended DNA double helices can be used to reversibly stabilize higher-order complexes that are assembled from rigid DNA components. Typically, at low cation concentrations, stacking bonds break and thus higher-order complexes disassemble. Herein, we present a site-specific photochemical mechanism for the reversible covalent stabilization of stacking bonds in DNA assemblies. To this end, we modified one blunt end with the 3-cyanovinylcarbazole (^cnv K) moiety and positioned a thymine residue (T) at the other blunt end. In the bound state, the two blunt-ended helices are stacked together, resulting in a co-localization of ^cnv K and T. Such a configuration induces the formation of a covalent bond across the stacking contact upon irrad

SUBMITTER: Gerling T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6984961 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature