Long-range Charge Transport in Single G-quadruplex DNA Molecules – published in Nature Nanotechnology

A single G4-DNA molecule has been shown to be able to transport charge over very long distances by Livshits et al. whose findings have been published in Nature Nanotechnology.

Abstract:

DNA and DNA-based polymers are of interest in molecular electronics because of their versatile and programmable structures. However, transport measurements have produced a range of seemingly contradictory results due to differences in the measured molecules and experimental set-ups, and transporting significant current through individual DNA-based molecules remains a considerable challenge. Here, we report reproducible charge transport in guanine-quadruplex (G4) DNA molecules adsorbed on a mica substrate. Currents ranging from tens of picoamperes to more than 100 pA were measured in the G4-DNA over distances ranging from tens of nanometres to more than 100 nm. Our experimental results, combined with theoretical modelling, suggest that transport occurs via a thermally activated long-range hopping between multi-tetrad segments. These results could re-ignite interest in DNA-based wires and devices, and in the use of such systems in the development of programmable circuits.

Reference:

1. Long-range charge transport in single G-quadruplex DNA molecules, G. I. Livshits, A. Stern, D. Rotem, N. Borovok, G. Eidelshtein, A. Migliore, E. Penzo, S. J. Wind, R. Di Felice, S. S. Skourtis, J. C. Cuevas, L. Gurevich, A. B. Kotlyar, D. Porath. Nature Nanotechnology, advanced online publication (October 26th, 2014). DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2014.246.