Communication

Dynamics and Multiple Stable Binding Modes of DNA Intercalators Revealed by Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy†

  1. Dr. D. Hern Paik,
  2. Prof. Thomas T. Perkins*

Article first published online: 9 DEC 2011

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201105540

Issue

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Volume 51, Issue 8, pages 1811–1815, February 20, 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Paik, D. H. and Perkins, T. T. (2012), Dynamics and Multiple Stable Binding Modes of DNA Intercalators Revealed by Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 51: 1811–1815. doi: 10.1002/anie.201105540

Author Information

  1. JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0440 (USA) http://jila.colorado.edu/perkinsgroup/

*JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0440 (USA) http://jila.colorado.edu/perkinsgroup/

  1. †

    This work was supported by NIST and NSF (Phy-0551010). We thank A. Pardi for useful discussions. T.T.P. is a staff member of the Quantum Physics Division of NIST.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 14 FEB 2012
  2. Article first published online: 9 DEC 2011
  3. Manuscript Received: 5 AUG 2011

Funded by

  • NIST
  • NSF. Grant Number: Phy-0551010

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Keywords:

  • DNA;
  • force spectroscopy;
  • intercalations;
  • optical traps;
  • single-molecule studies
Thumbnail image of graphical abstract

Lights off, but someone is home: Single-molecule force spectroscopy was used to investigate DNA intercalation in the presence and absence of unbound dye (see picture). Force-induced intercalation, traditionally ascribed to dye from solution binding to the DNA, occured approximately two hours after the removal of the free dye. The results show that binding/unbinding and intercalation/deintercalation are distinct processes that occur on very different time scales.

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