DNA melting apparatus for characterizing the thermal dissociation of DNA and supramolecular complexes in solution

要求一种DNA熔化装置提供监测溶液中非共价复合物的结合和解离的手段。我们研究计划的一个主要焦点涉及到综合修饰DNA的结构，以控制DNA复制周期中DNA双链的稳定性。为了确定我们的合成改性的有效性，我们迫切需要一种方法来监测所产生的稳定性。DNA复合物的温度可变测量是监测DNA稳定性的最常见和最简单的方法，所提出的仪器是专门为这项任务设计的。有了这个设备，我们将能够开发一种DNA复制系统，可以用作一步目标扩增和检测策略。这种方法有可能大大提高检测设备的灵敏度，目前需要在其检测序列中单独的酶扩增步骤。开发一种基于DNA的自我复制系统也将有助于了解生命的起源，以及具有识别特性的分子如何能够组织成功能性的、可复制的组装体。此外，该设备将用于表征基于氢键，pi-pi堆叠和静电元件的合成超分子配合物组成的非共价组件。使用DNA熔化装置来监测这些复合物的解离和结合将使我们能够确定是什么控制了它们的分子识别行为。这些见解最终将有助于理解生物系统中更复杂的重要分子识别过程。

A DNA melting apparatus is requested to provide means for monitoring the association and dissociation of noncovalent complexes in solution. One major focus of our research program involves synthetically modifying the structure of DNA to control the stability of DNA duplexes in a DNA replication cycle. To determine the efficacy of our synthetic modifications, we urgently require a method for monitoring the resulting stability. Temperature-variable measurements of DNA complexes are the most common and simple method for monitoring DNA stability, and the proposed instrumentation is designed specifically for this task. With this equipment, we will be able to develop a DNA replicating system that can be utilized as a one-step target amplification and detection strategy. Such an approach has the potential for greatly improving the sensitivity of detection devices, which currently require separate enzymatic amplification steps in their detection sequence. Developing a self-replicating system based on DNA will also shine light on the origins of life, and how molecules with recognition properties are able to organize into functional, replicating assemblies. Additionally, this equipment will be utilized to characterize noncovalent assemblies composed of synthetic supramolecular complexes based on hydrogen-bonding, pi-pi stacking and electrostatic elements. Using the DNA melting apparatus to monitor the dissociation and association of these complexes will allow us to determine what governs their molecular recognition behavior. These insights will ultimately be helpful in understanding more complex molecular recognition processes important in biological systems.