Transportation of DNA Molecule by Dielectrophoretic Force in Micro Flow Channel. Utilization of Conformational Transition in the Higher Order Structure of DNA.

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new methodology on noncontact transportation of DNA molecules by dielectrophoretic force together with the Micro DNA Flow System. We utilize the conformational transition in the higher oder structure of DNA for transportation. Such systems can be constructed by using Microfabrication technology. At first, we designed a simple micro electrode-flow system and carried out experiments. Experimental demonstration of DNA transportation in the globule state using dielectrophoretic force and direct observation of the DNA molecule in a non-uniform electric field were carried out with fluorescence microscopy. Motion of the DNA molecule is modelled in terms of the spatial gradient in the electric field depending on the electrode design. We discuss the experimental result on the motion of the DNA molecule compared with theoretical prediction. We show that transportation of DNA with the state of compacted globule is profitable in the future practical application for the separation of giant DNAs such as human gene.