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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
Published on: October 25, 2017
Evaluation of the radial deformability of poly(dG)-poly(dC) DNA and G4-DNA using vibrating scanning polarization
Huabin Wang1, Jiwei Lin, Chunmei Wang
1Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
Abstract:
Poly(dG)-poly(dC) DNA and G4-DNA are two types of synthetic molecules that are regarded as promising candidates for molecular nanodevices. In this work, vibrating scanning polarization force microscopy (VSPFM) was employed to study the radial deformability of these two molecules coadsorbed on a Ni(2+)-modified mica surface. The values of the radial compressive elastic modulus of these two types of molecules were found to be similar (approximately 5-10 MPa) when the external loading force was between approximately 0.04 and approximately 0.12 nN. However, G4-DNA molecules possessed higher stiffness than poly(dG)-poly(dC) DNA (approximately 20-40 vs approximately 10-20 MPa) when the loading force was larger than approximately 0.12 nN. The results will aid us in understanding these molecule's mechanical performances.
