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Nano Research 2018, 11(4): 2237-2247 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1844-4
Research Article | Issue | Published: 19 March 2018

How G-quadruplex topology and loop sequences affect optical properties of DNA-templated silver nanoclusters

Show Author's Information Guangyu Tao,  Yang Chen,  Ruoyun Lin,  Jiang Zhou,  Xiaojing Pei,  Feng Liu,  Na Li( )
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of EducationInstitute of Analytical ChemistryCollege of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringPeking UniversityBeijing100871China
Keywords:
silver nanoclusters, G-quadruplex, topology, loop sequence
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Tao G, Chen Y, Lin R, et al. How G-quadruplex topology and loop sequences affect optical properties of DNA-templated silver nanoclusters. Nano Research, 2018, 11(4): 2237-2247. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1844-4
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

In the study of the fabrication of DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (DNA-Ag NCs), how templates affect the fluorescence of the nanoclusters remains unclear, and it has been a challenge to understand the correlation between the properties of the DNA template and the Ag NCs. In this respect, based on the rational design of a series of structurally defined intramolecular G-quadruplexes, we prepared G-quadruplex-templated Ag NCs with a defined G-tetrad-to-silver ratio of 1:2. We evaluated the effect of G-quadruplex topology and loop sequences on the fluorescence of DNA-Ag NCs using circular dichroism, and extinction and emission spectroscopy. G-quadruplex templates with an anti-parallel topology were found to produce Ag NCs with stronger fluorescence compared with parallel and hybrid configurations. Loop bases adjacent to G-tetrads have a more significant impact on the fluorescence of Ag NCs compared with those in the middle of the loop, with adenine largely exhibiting an enhancement effect and thymine being detrimental. Generally, G-quadruplexes having an anti-parallel topology with adenine in the loop adjacent to the G-tetrad would be good templates for producing highly fluorescent Ag NCs. This is the first study to focus on the correlation between G-quadruplex topology/sequence and the optical properties of Ag NCs. We hope that the results of this study will facilitate a more in-depth understanding of correlation between G-quadruplex templates and Ag NCs, and help to understand and utilize their unique attributes.


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About this article

How G-quadruplex topology and loop sequences affect optical properties of DNA-templated silver nanoclusters

Show Author's information Guangyu Tao, Yang Chen, Ruoyun Lin, Jiang Zhou, Xiaojing Pei, Feng Liu, Na Li( )
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of EducationInstitute of Analytical ChemistryCollege of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringPeking UniversityBeijing100871China

Abstract

In the study of the fabrication of DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (DNA-Ag NCs), how templates affect the fluorescence of the nanoclusters remains unclear, and it has been a challenge to understand the correlation between the properties of the DNA template and the Ag NCs. In this respect, based on the rational design of a series of structurally defined intramolecular G-quadruplexes, we prepared G-quadruplex-templated Ag NCs with a defined G-tetrad-to-silver ratio of 1:2. We evaluated the effect of G-quadruplex topology and loop sequences on the fluorescence of DNA-Ag NCs using circular dichroism, and extinction and emission spectroscopy. G-quadruplex templates with an anti-parallel topology were found to produce Ag NCs with stronger fluorescence compared with parallel and hybrid configurations. Loop bases adjacent to G-tetrads have a more significant impact on the fluorescence of Ag NCs compared with those in the middle of the loop, with adenine largely exhibiting an enhancement effect and thymine being detrimental. Generally, G-quadruplexes having an anti-parallel topology with adenine in the loop adjacent to the G-tetrad would be good templates for producing highly fluorescent Ag NCs. This is the first study to focus on the correlation between G-quadruplex topology/sequence and the optical properties of Ag NCs. We hope that the results of this study will facilitate a more in-depth understanding of correlation between G-quadruplex templates and Ag NCs, and help to understand and utilize their unique attributes.

Keywords: silver nanoclusters, G-quadruplex, topology, loop sequence

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Publication history
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Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 03 July 2017
Revised: 04 September 2017
Accepted: 05 September 2017
Published: 19 March 2018
Issue date: April 2018

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21535006, 21475004, and 21275011).

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