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Self-Assembly of Gamma-Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids into Complex Nanostructures in Organic Solvent Mixtures
Published on: June 26, 2020
[C7GC4]4 association into supra molecular i-motif structures
Aude Laisné1, Denis Pompon, Jean-Louis Leroy
1Laboratoire d'Ingénerie des Proteines Membranaires, Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, CNRS FRE3144, Unité associé à l'Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Gif-sur-Yvette, 91190, France.
Nucleic Acids Research
|February 27, 2010
Summary
Cytidine-rich oligonucleotides form stable supramolecular structures (sms) through i-motif tetramers. Adjusting pH and temperature accelerates sms formation, showing potential for nanotechnology applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cytidine-rich oligonucleotides exhibit self-associative properties forming i-motif tetramers.
- These tetramers can assemble into supramolecular structures (sms) with potential nanotechnology applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize oligonucleotides (C(n)XC(m)) designed to facilitate stable sms formation.
- To investigate the factors influencing sms formation rate and stability, including concentration, temperature, and pH.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of C(n)XC(m) oligonucleotides with unequal cytidine stretches and a non-cytidine spacer.
- Gel filtration chromatography to analyze sms formation and stability.
- Investigating the effect of pH and temperature on oligonucleotide assembly and sms formation kinetics.
Main Results:
- Synthesized oligonucleotides successfully formed stable sms via i-motif tetramer intercalation.
- Sms formation rate increased with oligonucleotide concentration and temperature.
- i-motif dimers competed with sms elongation but their stability decreased away from cytidine pK, shifting equilibrium towards sms.
- Sms formed by C(7)GC(4) showed a broad molecular weight distribution, with equilibrium centered on nine tetramers.
Conclusions:
- Engineered oligonucleotides effectively form stable supramolecular structures.
- pH and temperature are critical parameters for controlling sms formation kinetics and stability.
- These findings highlight the potential of i-motif forming oligonucleotides in nanotechnology.
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