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Structural insights into DNA-stabilized silver clusters
Danielle Schultz1, Robert G Brinson, Nese Sari
1Biomaterials Group, Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA. joy.dunkers@nist.gov.
Soft Matter
|May 17, 2019
Summary
Silver-DNA nanoclusters show distinct structures and dynamics, with silver ions binding preferentially to nucleobases, influencing DNA strand stability and optical properties for sensor development.
Area of Science:
- Biophysical Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Silver nanoclusters with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) show promise as fluorescent probes and sensors.
- Understanding the structure and dynamics of these complexes is crucial for their application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure and dynamics of fluorescent silver-nanoparticle-ssDNA (AgNssDNA) nanoclusters.
- To elucidate the interaction mechanisms between silver ions and ssDNA.
Main Methods:
- Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC)
- Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
- Infrared spectroscopy
- Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations
Main Results:
- The (AgNssDNA)8+ nanocluster exists as a mixture of Ag15 and Ag16 species.
- Two main conformational states were observed: extended and spherical, with mobile ssDNA strands.
- Silver ions (Ag(i)) preferentially bind to nucleobases (cytosine and guanine) over the phosphate backbone, altering DNA structure.
- Ag(i) exhibits higher affinity for cytosine than guanine, minimal interaction with adenine, and negligible interaction with thymine.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into the structural basis of AgNssDNA nanocluster stability and optical properties.
- Understanding Ag(i)-nucleobase interactions is key for designing novel ssDNA-based nanocluster sensors.
- Further characterization of these systems is essential for rational sensor design.
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