Computational Modelling Group

27th November 2009 4 p.m.  Building 7, Room 3031

SYMBIOSIS seminar - Modified nucleotides in nano-biotechnology

Eugen Stulz
School of Chemistry

Categories
Biomolecular Organisation, Nanoscale Assemblies, Systems biology
Submitter
Thomas Blumensath

The synthesis of nucleotides has advanced to a point where almost any modification can be attached to the nucleoside and incorporated site specifically into DNA. We are working on metal complex substituted DNA for the creation of novel functional molecules on the nanometre scale, in particular electronic wires.1 Our modifications are attached via rigid acetylene linkers, thus an appropriate Donor-Acceptor system based on metal complexes shows more sensitive distance dependence in FRET. The metal complex labelling of DNA will also be discussed in applications for studying DNA-protein interactions, sensing (SERS, nano-pore blockage) and G-quartet stabilisation. These could have applications in diagnostics (single molecule sequencing) or therapeutics (photodynamic therapy, telomerase inhibitors).