Duplex stabilization and energy transfer in zipper porphyrin-DNA

Abstract

(Chemical Equation Presented) Zip it up: Attachment of porphyrins onto complementary DNA strands leads to zipper-porphyrin arrays and, in the presence of eleven modifications, an increase in the melting temperature of the duplex. Mixed zinc and free-base porphyrin arrays undergo energy transfer from the zinc porphyrin to the free-base porphyrin in the annealed duplex but not in the denatured form (see scheme), giving access to reversible formation of potential photonic wires. © 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.