DNA Photonics – Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Synthetic DNA-Donor–Acceptor Systems

Abstract

Recent experimental and theoretical results have demonstrated that structural dynamics are critical for a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of DNA charge transfer (CT). While the initial controversies regarding the long-range conductivity properties and wire-type behavior of DNA have been settled, a new field, DNA photonics, has emerged around the photophysics of nucleic acids. The contributions that can be expected from future studies in DNA photonics will be focused on the complex interactions between structural and electronic properties of DNA which are profound for biomedical applications such as DNA-targeted drug design. In this paper we report about our collaborative experimental efforts to expand the new and highly exciting field of DNA photonics. Experimental data from several different classes of functionalized DNA systems will be presented to illuminate the relationship between structural dynamics and charge injection/migration using state-of-the art femtosecond broadband spectroscopy. Our results present strong evidence for the involvement of hydrogen bond dynamics which must be considered as a specific mode of solvation dynamics inside the DNA helix.