Probing the relative orientation of molecules bound to DNA through controlled interference using second-harmonic generation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 9;110(15):5756-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1302554110. Epub 2013 Mar 25.

Abstract

A method is described in which the interference of radiated second-harmonic electric fields generated by a pair of oriented molecules intercalated into double-stranded DNA is controlled and measured. The results show that the relative molecular orientation of the two molecules significantly changes the magnitude of the observed second-harmonic generation intensity, which is described by a simple model that accounts for the interferences of the radiated fields. The technique presented shows promise for future experiments investigating structural changes induced by the formation of a DNA-biomolecule complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / methods*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Daunorubicin / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Models, Statistical
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Oscillometry / methods
  • Spectrophotometry / methods

Substances

  • Ligands
  • DNA
  • Daunorubicin