Structural Analysis of the Poly(thymidine)-Melamine Assembly

J Phys Chem B. 2022 Sep 15;126(36):6948-6954. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c04665. Epub 2022 Aug 26.

Abstract

Hydrogen bonding between the DNA nucleobases and small organic molecules, such as melamine, is a new strategy for the design of novel DNA materials. Poly(thymidine) DNA and melamine self-assemble into a duplex structure containing two antiparallel DNA strands hydrogen bonded to central melamine units. In this Article, molecular dynamics simulations rationalize the observed antiparallel duplex structure. Alternative duplex and triplex structures with parallel and antiparallel strand orientations are shown to be unstable because of the increase in unfavorable interactions between the DNA backbones.

MeSH terms

  • DNA* / chemistry
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Poly A
  • Thymidine
  • Triazines*

Substances

  • Triazines
  • Poly A
  • DNA
  • melamine
  • Thymidine