
Honors College Theses
Date
2022
Major
Biochemistry (B.S.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Faculty Mentor
Nathaniel Shank
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are oligonucleotide analogues in which the sugar-phosphate backbone has been replaced by a pseudopeptide skeleton. Since PNAs use the natural nucleobases (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Uracil, and Guanine) found in either DNA and/or RNA, they are able to hybridize according to Watson-Crick base-pairing to form duplexes. PNA is a promising therapeutic agent because they can function as antigene or antisense chemical agents. To further enhance their utility, we aim to incorporate a photoswitchable moiety using azobenzene. Here, we report the results of the synthesis and purification of a photoswitchable 11 mer PNA along with initial characterization efforts.
Recommended Citation
Nguyen, Kat, "Analysis of the Light Responsive Azobenzene Peptide Nucleic Acid Duplexes" (2022). Honors College Theses. 765.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/765
Included in
Analytical Chemistry Commons, Biochemistry Commons, Inorganic Chemistry Commons, Materials Chemistry Commons, Organic Chemistry Commons, Physical Chemistry Commons, Polymer Chemistry Commons