Direct measurement of hole transport dynamics in DNA

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

32

Scientific paper

Our understanding of oxidative damage to double helical DNA and the design of DNA-based devices for molecular electronics is crucially dependent upon elucidation of the mechanism and dynamics of electron and hole transport in DNA. Electrons and holes can migrate from the locus of formation to trap sites, and such migration can occur through either a single-step ``superexchange'' mechanism or a multistep charge transport ``hopping'' mechanism. The rates of single-step charge separation and charge recombination processes are found to decrease rapidly with increasing transfer distances, whereas multistep hole transport processes are only weakly distance dependent. However, the dynamics of hole transport has not yet been directly determined. Here we report spectroscopic measurements of photoinduced electron transfer in synthetic DNA that yield rate constants of ~5×10 7s-1 and 5×10 6s-1, respectively, for the forward and return hole transport from a single guanine base to a double guanine base step across a single adenine. These rates are faster than processes leading to strand cleavage, such as the reaction of guanine cation radical with water, thus permitting holes to migrate over long distances in DNA. However, they are too slow to compete with charge recombination in contact ion pairs, a process which protects DNA from photochemical damage.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Direct measurement of hole transport dynamics in DNA does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Direct measurement of hole transport dynamics in DNA, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Direct measurement of hole transport dynamics in DNA will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1478738

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.