Bent DNA Bows as Sensing Amplifiers for Detecting DNA-Interacting Salts and Molecules

Abstract

Due to the central role of DNA, its interactions with inorganic salts and small organic molecules are important. For example, such interactions play important roles in various fundamental cellular processes in living systems and are involved in many DNA-damage related diseases. Strategies to improve the sensitivity of the existing techniques for studying DNA interactions with other molecules is always appreciated in situations where the interactions are too weak. Here we report our development and demonstration of bent DNA bows for amplifying, sensing, and detecting the interactions of >10 inorganic salts and small organic molecules with DNA.