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DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation
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Electrical conduction through DNA molecule.

S Abdalla1

  • 1Physics Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. soulimanabd@hotmail.com

Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
|March 15, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Disorder in DNA localizes charge carriers, impacting electrical conduction. A model shows electrons in the LUMO and HOMO orbitals dictate DNA

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biophysics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Disorder in DNA molecules can lead to charge carrier localization within potential wells.
  • This localization significantly affects electrical conduction properties.
  • Understanding charge carrier behavior is crucial for elucidating DNA's electronic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a model explaining the role of electrons in the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) in DNA's electrical conduction.
  • To investigate how charge carriers in the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and LUMO influence DNA's conductivity.
  • To analyze relaxation phenomena and activation energies associated with localized charge carriers in DNA.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a theoretical model to describe charge carrier behavior in DNA.
  • Fitting experimental data for DC conductivity, AC conductivity, and dielectric permittivity with the proposed model.
  • Analysis of relaxation phenomena and calculation of activation energies and relaxation times.

Main Results:

  • The model successfully fits experimental DC/AC conductivity and dielectric permittivity data.
  • Free charge carriers in HOMO and LUMO orbitals are identified as key determinants of DNA's conductive, insulating, or semiconducting nature.
  • Four distinct thermally activated relaxation phenomena were observed with activation energies of 0.56 eV, 0.33 eV, 0.24 eV, and 0.05 eV.

Conclusions:

  • Localized charge carriers in DNA exhibit four types of relaxation phenomena.
  • The model provides strong evidence that charge carriers in LUMO and HOMO orbitals are essential for DNA's electrical properties.
  • Relaxation times for current carriers at room temperature range from 1.6 × 10(-10)s to 5 × 10(-2)s.