Photo-switching of blunt-end stacking between DNA strands immobilized on gold nanoparticles

Abstract

End-to-end intermolecular interaction between double-stranded DNAs grafted onto individual nanoparticles is regulated by terminal base pairing/unpairing triggered by the photo-isomerization of an azobenzene moiety inserted in the vicinity of the DNA terminal. This is the first example of highly reversible control of blunt-end stacking under both isothermal and isoionic-strength conditions.