Single-molecule quantification of individual base-stacking energies using a centrifuge force microscope

Abstract

DNA is stabilized by base pairing between complementary strands and also by base stacking between adjacent bases in the same strand. Untangling the energy contributions from base-pairs and base-stacks is challenging but of great interest since it can aid in molecular modelling, designing nucleic acid nanostructures, and even in understanding origins of nucleic acid assembly in pre-biotic era. Single-molecule techniques are capable to apply forces on molecule in piconewton range, which fall in the range of biomolecular forces, making it an ideal approach for this investigation.