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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
Chemical-Labeling-Assisted Detection of Nucleobase Modifications by Quantum-Tunneling-Based Single-Molecule Sensing
Takafumi Furuhata1, Takahito Ohshiro2, Yuichi Izuhara3
1Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
Abstract:
Quantum-tunneling-based DNA sensing is a single-molecule technique that promises direct mapping of nucleobase modifications. However, its applicability is seriously limited because of the small difference in conductivity between modified and unmodified nucleobases. Herein, a chemical labeling strategy is presented that facilitates the detection of modified nucleotides by quantum tunneling. We used 5-Formyl-2'-deoxyuridine as a model compound and demonstrated that chemical labeling dramatically alters its molecular conductance compared with that of canonical nucleotides; thus, facilitating statistical discrimination, which is impeded in the unlabeled state. This work introduces a chemical strategy that overcomes the intrinsic difficulty in quantum-tunneling-based modification analysis-the similarity of the molecular conductance of the nucleobases of interest.
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