Signaling through DNA

Abstract

DNA charge transport chem. offers an opportunity to carry out redox chem. at a distance and thus provides a powerful platform for signaling, whether in the design of new sensors or in activating responses across the genome. Many expts. have now shown that DNA-mediated charge transport can arise over long mol. distances but in a reaction that is exquisitely sensitive to perturbations in the DNA base stack. Studies are described to illustrate this chem., to design new DNA-based sensors, and to characterize how DNA-binding proteins utilize DNA charge transport for long range signaling.