Self-Assembled Metal Arrays in DNA

To control metal arrays in a discrete and predictable manner, one definitely needs appropriate ligands that have a varied number of coordination sites. From this perspective, DNA is a promising molecule that could act as a multidentate ligand for one-dimensional metal arrays when the nucleobases are replaced by ligand-like 

Such strategy could be developed for self-assembled metal arrays in a variety of DNA structures such as multistranded, hairpin, junction, or cyclic structures. The next approach should be to increase the number of metal ions or to create heterometal arrays possibly leading to metal-metal communication triggered by stimuli from outside. 

Such a new binding motif in DNA duplex will influence research in such diverse areas as medicinal chemistry, materials science, and bionanotechnology. Introduction of metal-induced base pairs into DNA would not only affect the assembly-disassembly processes and the structure of DNA double strands but also confer a variety of metal-based functions on DNA. Examples of one-dimensional metal arrays in solution are quite limited and, for the most part, are found only in the solid state. This strategy represents a new method for arranging metal ions in solution in a discrete and predictable fashion, leading to the possibility of metal-based molecular devices such as molecular magnets and wires. 

DNA shows promise as a provider of a structural basis for the bottom-up fabrication of inorganic and bioorganic molecular devices. In particular, the DNA base replacement for alternative base pairing could possibly provide many versatile tools 

Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida and Florida Center for Environmental Studies, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 

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