Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids
Published on: September 21, 2017
Base pair opening kinetics study of the aegPNA:DNA hydrid duplex containing a site-specific GNA-like chiral PNA
Yeo-Jin Seo1, Jisoo Lim, Eun-Hae Lee
1Department of Chemistry and RINS, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam 660-701, Molecular-Level Interface Research Center, Department of Chemistry, KAIST, Daejeon 305-701, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are one of the most widely used synthetic DNA mimics where the four bases are attached to a N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (aeg) backbone instead of the negative-charged phosphate backbone in DNA. We have developed a chimeric PNA (chiPNA), in which a chiral GNA-like γ(3)T monomer is incorporated into aegPNA backbone. The base pair opening kinetics of the aegPNA:DNA and chiPNA:DNA hybrid duplexes were studied by NMR hydrogen exchange experiments. This study revealed that the aegPNA:DNA hybrid is much more stable duplex and is less dynamic compared to DNA duplex, meaning that base pairs are opened and reclosed much more slowly. The site-specific incorporation of γ(3)T monomer in the aegPNA:DNA hybrid can destabilize a specific base pair and its neighbors, maintaining the thermal stabilities and dynamic properties of other base pairs. Our hydrogen exchange study firstly revealed the unique kinetic features of base pairs in the aegPNA:DNA and chiPNA:DNA hybrids, which will provide an insight into the development of methodology for specific DNA recognition using PNA fragments.
Related Concept Videos
DNA Base Pairing
Proofreading
Errors During Replication are Corrected by the DNA Polymerase Enzyme
Proofreading
Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing
Challenges of the Maxam-Gilbert Method
The...
Nucleic Acid Structure
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...

