Observation of coherent delocalized phonon-like modes in DNA under physiological conditions

Mario González-Jiménez; Gopakumar Ramakrishnan; Thomas Harwood; Adrian J. Lapthorn; Sharon M. Kelly; Elizabeth M. Ellis; Klaas Wynne

doi:10.1038/ncomms11799

Nature Communications (Jun 2016)

Observation of coherent delocalized phonon-like modes in DNA under physiological conditions

Mario González-Jiménez,
Gopakumar Ramakrishnan,
Thomas Harwood,
Adrian J. Lapthorn,
Sharon M. Kelly,
Elizabeth M. Ellis,
Klaas Wynne

Affiliations

Mario González-Jiménez: School of Chemistry, WestCHEM, University of Glasgow
Gopakumar Ramakrishnan: School of Chemistry, WestCHEM, University of Glasgow
Thomas Harwood: Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde
Adrian J. Lapthorn: School of Chemistry, WestCHEM, University of Glasgow
Sharon M. Kelly: Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow
Elizabeth M. Ellis: Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde
Klaas Wynne: School of Chemistry, WestCHEM, University of Glasgow

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11799
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Terahertz-frequency vibrational modes are thought to play a key role for DNA biological functions, yet observation of these fluctuations in solution has proven difficult so far. Here, the authors use femtosecond optical Kerr-effect spectroscopy to demonstrate their existence in physiologically relevant conditions.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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