Revealing the effect of intramolecular interactions on DNA SERS detection: SERS capability for structural analysis

Intramolecular interactions are key factors for constructing the secondary conformations of biomolecules and they are also vital for biomolecular functions. Their effect on the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra is also important for reliable label-free detection. The current work focuses on three GCGC-quadruplexes as model molecules for SERS studies, which contain both the G-quartet and the GCGC-quartet. Their spectra are compared with the ones of the G-quadruplex and the duplex. The present work presents the specific effect of intramolecular interactions, including various Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds as well as base stacking, on the SERS signals of closely-related secondary conformations. The overall results indicated a significant influence on the direct label-free detection of DNA molecules and the SERS capability for secondary structural analysis.