Molecule of the Month
September 2004
A Metal Coordinating DNA Hairpin Mimic

A terpyridine linker has been synthesised as a template for DNA hairpin formation. In addition to serving as a hairpin loop mimic, the terpyridine can act as a coordination site for divalent transition metals. The Tm of the metallo-hairpin is strongly influenced by the type of the bound metal with Tm's increasing in the order Co2+ ~ Ni2+ < Zn2+ < Cu2+ < Pd2+.

This work was carried out in the group of Prof. Robert Häner.

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