Term of Award
Spring 2024
Degree Name
Master of Science, Applied Physical Science
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
Digital Commons@Georgia Southern License
Department
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Committee Chair
Nathaniel Shank
Committee Member 1
Mark Dela Cerna
Committee Member 2
Mitch Weiland
Abstract
Light-driven molecular switches that can be turned on and off on demand have found many biological applications. For DNA, RNA, and synthetic derivatives, the switch can be used to interfere with a hybridization event with a complementary strand. To explore this potential, we have synthesized three light-sensitive PNA which have an azobenzene group (PNA-5azo5 and PNA-4azo4), and two azobenzene groups (PNA-2azo5azo2) as part of the PNA backbone. UV experiments were used to verify the conversion to the cis-isomer from the initial trans state for all of the single-stranded Azo-PNA ( PNA-5azo5, PNA-4azo4, and PNA-2azo5azo2) by irradiating at 365 nm with a LED light while monitoring the cis absorption at 200 – 600 nm. Conversion back to the trans isomer was explored using light (490 nm) and thermal relaxation. Light-driven isomerization of the same oligomer back to the trans-isomer showed nearly full restoration of the isomer when irradiated at 490 nm at 20 ˚C. Interestingly, thermal conversion (in the dark) required elevated temperatures and time (5 h at 60 oC, PNA-2azo5azo2) to return the trans-isomer. Unfortunately, ELISA readouts, the melting curve analysis, and UV Vis spectroscopy for the PNA duplexes showed that regardless of the PNA isomerization, the duplexes maintained their stability.
Recommended Citation
Velasquez, Carmen J., "Hybridization and Duplex Stability of Peptide Nucleic Acid Containing an Azobenzene Switch" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2743.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/2743
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
