Understanding the interaction of biological molecules with materials is essential in view of the novel potential applications arising when these two are combined. To this end, we investigate the interaction of DNA with diamondoids, a broad family of tiny hydrogen-terminated diamond clusters with high technological potential. We model this interaction through quantum-mechanical computer simulati...

We quantify the base dependent interactions between single stranded DNA and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in solution. DNA/SWNT hybrids hold the promise of applications ranging from nanoscale electronics and assembly of nanotube based materials, to drug delivery and DNA sequencing. These applications require control over the hybrid assembly and disassembly. Our analytical assay reveals...

Label-free DNA nucleobase recognition by fluorescent small molecules has received much attention due to its simplicity in mutation identification and drug screening. However, sequence-dependent fluorescence light-up nucleobase recognition and multicolor emission with individual emission energy for individual nucleobases have been seldom realized. Herein, an abasic site (AP site) in a DNA duplex...

An improved method is presented, based on gas chromatography-electron capture mass spectrometry (GC-EC-MS), for measuring N7-(2'-hydroxyethyl)guanine (N7-HEG) in DNA from an in vivo sample. The method was used to detect this adduct in amounts of human DNA ranging from 0.07 to 11.5 microg isolated from granulocytes. In this method, the DNA is spiked with a stable isotope internal standard (N7-HE...

Polystyrene (PS) is a rigid plastic possessing excellent electrical resistivity, low dissipation factor, and high arc resistance. These electrical parameters are responsible for its insulating nature and allow for its widespread use in the manufacture of capacitors. However, insulating properties of PS and other polymers can be modulated either by employing dopants or by blending with suitable ...

Nucleotide metabolism is an essential process in all living organisms. Besides newly synthesized nucleotides, the recycling (salvage) of partially degraded nucleotides, i.e., nucleosides and nucleobases serves to keep the homeostasis of the nucleotide pool. Both types of metabolites are substrates of at least six families of transport proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) with a total ...

The combination of several closely spaced DNA lesions, which can be induced by a single radical hit, constitutes hallmark in the damage landscape and radiation chemistry. occurrence such tandem base lesion gives rise to strong coupling with double helix degrees freedom induces important structural deformations, contrast strands containing oxidized nucleobase. Although complex lesions are known ...

Ruthenium complexes have proved to exhibit antineoplastic activity, related the interaction of metal ion with DNA. In this context, synthetic and theoretical studies on ruthenium binding modes thymine acetate (THAc) been focused shed light structure-activity relationship. This report deals reaction between dihydride mer-[Ru(H)2(CO)(PPh3)3], 1 acetic acid (THAcOH) selected as model for nucleobas...

The ability of RNA to interconvert between multiple conformational states is essential for the diversity of biological functions that have been discovered in the recent past. For example, the correct operation of regulatory RNA elements, such as riboswitches, is based on the precise interplay of alternative RNA conformations. Studying the molecular mechanisms of RNA function entails probing RNA...

Deinococcus radiodurans RNA ligase (DraRnl) is the founding member of a family of end-joining enzymes encoded by diverse microbes and viruses. DraRnl ligates 3'-OH, 5'-PO4 nicks in double-stranded nucleic acids in which the nick 3'-OH end is RNA. Here we gauge the effects of 3'-OH and 5'-PO4 base mispairs and damaged base lesions on the rate of nick sealing. DraRnl is indifferent to the identit...