Dresden 2009 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 7: Poster I

BP 7.51: Poster

Monday, March 23, 2009, 17:45–20:00, P3

Transport properties of G-quadruplex DNA measured with mechanically controllable break junction electrodes — •Shoupeng Liu¹, Samuel Weisbrod², Zhuo Tang², Andreas Marx², Elke Scheer¹, and Artur Erbe¹ — ¹Physics Department, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany — ²Chemistry Department, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany

The conductance properties of G-quadruplex DNA are investigated while stretching the molecules mechanically. Electrodes which are fabricated using a mechanically controllable break junctions (MCBJ) setup enable us to measure the resistance of single or a small number of molecules in various stretching situations. The resistance as a function of the electrode distance, i.e. the so-called open-close curve, shows a plateau, which we associate with the folding and unfolding process of the molecule. From the measured current-voltage characteristics we deduce a semiconductor-like electronic band-structure. The results suggest a comparatively high conductance of the G-quadruplex structure which has promising usage in future nanoelectronics.