Base-Directed Formation of Fluorescent Silver Clusters
ACS Citation
Sengupta, B.; Ritchie, C. M.; Buckman, J. G.; Johnsen, K. R.; Goodwin, P. M.; Petty, J. T. Base-Directed Formation of Fluorescent Silver Clusters. J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 18776-18782.
Version of Record
Abstract
Small silver clusters that form with short oligonucleotides are distinguished by their strong fluorescence. Previous work showed that red- and blue/green-emitting species form with the cytosine oligonucleotide dC12. To understand how the bases and base sequence influence cluster formation, the blue/green-emitting clusters that form with the thymine-containing oligonucleotides dT12, dT4C4T4, and dC4T4C4 are discussed. With dT12 and dT4C4T4, variations in the solution pH establish that the clusters associate with the N3 of thymine. The small clusters are bound to the larger DNA template, as demonstrated by fluorescence anisotropy, circular dichroism, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) studies. For dT4C4T4, FCS studies showed that approximately 50% of the strands are labeled with the fluorescent clusters. Absorption spectra and the gas dependence of the fluorescence show that nonfluorescent clusters also form following the reduction of the silver cation?oligonucleotide conjugates. Fluorescent cluster formation is favored by oxygen, thus indicating that the DNA-bound clusters are partially oxidized. To elaborate the sequence dependence of cluster formation, dC4T4C4 was studied. Cluster formation depends on the oligonucleotide concentration, and higher concentrations favor a red-emitting species. A blue/green emissive species dominates at lower concentrations of dC4T4C4, and it has spectroscopic, physical, and chemical properties that are similar to those of the clusters that form with dT12 and dT4C4T4. These results suggest that cytosine- and thymine-containing oligonucleotides stabilize a preferred emissive silver cluster. Small silver clusters that form with short oligonucleotides are distinguished by their strong fluorescence. Previous work showed that red- and blue/green-emitting species form with the cytosine oligonucleotide dC12. To understand how the bases and base sequence influence cluster formation, the blue/green-emitting clusters that form with the thymine-containing oligonucleotides dT12, dT4C4T4, and dC4T4C4 are discussed. With dT12 and dT4C4T4, variations in the solution pH establish that the clusters associate with the N3 of thymine. The small clusters are bound to the larger DNA template, as demonstrated by fluorescence anisotropy, circular dichroism, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) studies. For dT4C4T4, FCS studies showed that approximately 50% of the strands are labeled with the fluorescent clusters. Absorption spectra and the gas dependence of the fluorescence show that nonfluorescent clusters also form following the reduction of the silver cation?oligonucleotide conjugates. Fluorescent cluster formation is favored by oxygen, thus indicating that the DNA-bound clusters are partially oxidized. To elaborate the sequence dependence of cluster formation, dC4T4C4 was studied. Cluster formation depends on the oligonucleotide concentration, and higher concentrations favor a red-emitting species. A blue/green emissive species dominates at lower concentrations of dC4T4C4, and it has spectroscopic, physical, and chemical properties that are similar to those of the clusters that form with dT12 and dT4C4T4. These results suggest that cytosine- and thymine-containing oligonucleotides stabilize a preferred emissive silver cluster.
Source Name
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Volume
112
Issue
48
Page(s)
19-25
Document Type
Citation
Citation Type
Article