Patassium sensing oligonucleotide, PSO, based on DNA tetraplex formation.

Abstract

Potassium Sensing Oligonucleotide, PSO, showing a high selectivity for K+ was synthesized by connecting 6-FAM and 6-TAMRA at the 5'- and 3'-termini of d(GGG TTA GGG TTA GGG TTA GGG), respectively. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra of PSO in the absence and presence of a various amount of KCl or NaCl revealed that PSO assumes an intramolecular or intermolecular antiparallel tetraplex structure in the presence of K+ and Na+, respectively.