González-Jiminéz, M. , Ramakrishnan, G., Harwood, T., Lapthorn, A. J. , Kelly, S. M. , Ellis, E. M. and Wynne, K. (2016) Observation of coherent delocalized phonon-like modes in DNA under physiological conditions. Nature Communications, 7, 11799. (doi: 10.1038/ncomms11799) (PMID:27248361) (PMCID:PMC4895446)
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Abstract
Underdamped terahertz-frequency delocalized phonon-like modes have long been suggested to play a role in the biological function of DNA. Such phonon modes involve the collective motion of many atoms and are prerequisite to understanding the molecular nature of macroscopic conformational changes and related biochemical phenomena. Initial predictions were based on simple theoretical models of DNA. However, such models do not take into account strong interactions with the surrounding water, which is likely to cause phonon modes to be heavily damped and localized. Here we apply state-of-the-art femtosecond optical Kerr effect spectroscopy, which is currently the only technique capable of taking low-frequency (GHz to THz) vibrational spectra in solution. We are able to demonstrate that phonon modes involving the hydrogen bond network between the strands exist in DNA at physiologically relevant conditions. In addition, the dynamics of the solvating water molecules is slowed down by about a factor of 20 compared with the bulk.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Lapthorn, Dr Adrian and Gonzalez Jimenez, Dr Mario and Kelly, Dr Sharon and Wynne, Professor Klaas and Ramakrishnan, Dr Gopakumar |
| Authors: | González-Jiminéz, M., Ramakrishnan, G., Harwood, T., Lapthorn, A. J., Kelly, S. M., Ellis, E. M., and Wynne, K. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry |
| Journal Name: | Nature Communications |
| Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
| ISSN: | 2041-1723 |
| Published Online: | 01 June 2016 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2016 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Nature Communications 7:11799 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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