Published January 15, 1999 | public
Journal Article

Electron Transfer Between Bases in Double Helical DNA

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Abstract

Fluorescent analogs of adenine that selectively oxidize guanine were used to investigate photoinduced electron transfer through the DNA π-stack as a function of reactant stacking and energetics. Small variations in these factors led to profound changes in the kinetics and distance dependences of DNA-mediated electron-transfer reactions. Values of β, a parameter reflecting the dependence of electron transfer on distance, ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 per angstrom. Strong stacking interactions result in the fastest electron-transfer kinetics. Electrons are thus transported preferentially through an intrastrand rather than interstrand pathway. Reactant energetics also modulate the distance dependence of DNA-mediated charge transport. These studies may resolve the range of disparate results previously reported, and paradigms must now be developed to describe these properties of the DNA π-stack, which can range from insulator- to "wire"-like.

Additional Information

© 1999 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Received 30 September 1998; accepted 9 December 1998. This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research and in part by NSF (grants CTS-9311741 and CHE-9120001) and an Elon Huntington Hooker Fellowship to X.L.C.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 18, 2023