Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Synthetic Condensates and Cell-Like Architectures from Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures
Published on: May 31, 2024
Anthracene-DNA conjugates as building blocks of designed DNA structures constructed by photochemical reactions
Motoko Mukae1, Toshihiro Ihara, Miyuki Tabara
1Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan.
Abstract:
We present the photochemical ligation of anthracene-ODN (oligodeoxyribonucleotide) conjugates through cycloaddition of anthracenes. Anthracene-DNA conjugates were synthesized by linking the 5'- or 3'-end of ODNs to the anthracene group. The sequences of the conjugates were designed to hybridize to neighboring sites on the target ODN with their anthracene units facing each other. When the ternary duplex consisting of the two conjugates and the target forms, the conjugates can be dimerized by light irradiation. The dimerization efficiency was affected by the substitution position of the anthracene group and by a one-base displacement in the template sequence. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the capping of the duplex and connecting third strands in a triplex structure could also be the target of the photochemical ligation.
Related Concept Videos
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Nucleic Acid Structure
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...
The DNA Helix
The DNA Helix
DNA as a Genetic Template
Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing
Challenges of the Maxam-Gilbert Method
The...

