AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Nucleic Acids at Surfaces Topical Conference Monday Sessions
       Session DN-MoA

Invited Paper DN-MoA5
DNA Conformation on Surfaces Measured by Fluorescence Self-Interference

Monday, November 13, 2006, 3:20 pm, Room 2014

Session: Nucleic Acids at Surfaces II
Presenter: B.B. Goldberg, Boston University
Authors: B.B. Goldberg, Boston University
L. Moiseev, Boston University
C.R. Cantor, Boston University
A.K. Swan, Boston University
M.S. Unlu, Boston University
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The conformation of DNA molecules tethered to the surface of a microarray may significantly affect the efficiency of hybridization. Although a number of methods have been applied to determine the structure of the DNA layer, they are not particularly sensitive to variations in the shape of DNA molecules. Here we describe the application of a novel interferometric technique called Spectral Self-Interference Fluorescence Microscopy (SSFM) to the precise measurement of the average location of a fluorescent label in a DNA layer relative to the surface and thus determine specific information on the conformation of the surface-bound DNA molecules. Using SSFM we have estimated the shape of coiled single-stranded DNA, the average tilt of double-stranded DNA of different lengths, and estimated the amount of hybridization. The data provide important new proofs of concept for the capabilities of novel optical surface analytical methods of the molecular disposition of DNA on surfaces. The determination of DNA conformations on surfaces and hybridization behavior provide information required to move DNA interfacial applications forward and thus impact emerging clinical and biotechnological fields.