Ordered self-assembled monolayers of Peptide nucleic acids with DNA recognition capability

Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Nov 12;93(20):208103. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.208103. Epub 2004 Nov 11.

Abstract

We report on the formation of ordered self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of single-stranded peptide nucleic acids (ssPNA). In spite of their remarkable length (7 nm) thiolated PNAs assemble standing up on gold surfaces similarly to the SAMs of short alkanethiols. SAMs of ssPNA recognize complementary nucleic acids, acting as specific biosensors that discriminate even a point mutation in target ssDNA. These results are obtained by surface characterization techniques that avoid labeling of the target molecule: x-ray photoemission, x-ray absorption and atomic force microscopy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Single-Stranded / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptide Nucleic Acids / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • Peptide Nucleic Acids
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds