Ag+-Mediated DNA Base Pairing: Extraordinarily Stable Pyrrolo-dC–Pyrrolo-dC Pairs Binding Two Silver Ions

• DOI: 10.1021/jo401109w
• Publication Date: 2013-08-22T01:38:12Z
• Authors: Hui Mei; Ingo Röhl; Frank Seela
• Keywords: Ions; Silver; Molecular Structure; Pyrroles; DNA; Base Pairing; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

6-Substituted pyrrolo-dC-pyrrolo-dC mismatches selectively capture silver ions to form extraordinarily stable metal-mediated base pairs. One single modification in a 12-mer duplex causes a Tm increase of 36.0 °C relative to the metal-free mismatched duplex. Spectrophotometric titrations as well as ESI mass spectra confirmed the binding of two silver ions per base pair. The Ag(+)-mediated base pairs may permit the construction of metal-responsive DNA with a very high silver loading.