Molecular 'Light Switch' for DNA: Ru(bpy)2(dppz)2+

摘要

Ru(bpy)2(dppz)2+ is a highly sensitive spectroscopic reporter of double-helicalDNA. In aqueous solution, luminescence is detectable only when Ru(bpy)2(dppz)2+ has intercalated in (or is perhaps otherwise shielded by)2 the nucleic acid structure. The emission characteristics furthermore sensitively distinguish both in terms of intensity and emission maximum the different helical forms of the polynucleotide. Therefore, we conclude that Ru(bpy)2(dppz) can serve as a true molecular 'light switch' for DNA structures, and tethered onto oligonucleotides, the complex may be useful as a sensitive, nonradioactive, luminescent DNA probe in both heterogeneous and homogeneous assays. (JES)