Fluorescence of DNA Duplexes: From Model Helices to Natural DNA

• DOI: 10.1021/jz101122t
• Publication Date: 2010-11-03T12:55:32Z
• Authors: Dimitra Markovitsi; Thomas Gustavsson; Ignacio Vayá
• Keywords: Chromophore

Recent fluorescence studies of DNA duplexes with a simple repetitive base sequence have revealed important collective effects which are very sensitive to conformational disorder. In contrast the monomeric chromophores, whose lifetimes shorter than 1 ps, decays span several decades time. The occurrence excitation energy transfer, evidenced by decay anisotropy on femtosecond time scale, is common feature all examined systems. It explained existence Franck−Condon exciton states, in line UV absorption spectra. Understanding nature long-lived excited emission dominates steady-state spectrum natural DNA, will be one challenges for years come.