G-quartet biomolecular nanowires

We present a first-principle investigation of quadruple helix nanowires, consisting of stacked planar hydrogen-bonded guanine tetramers. Our results show that long wires form and are stable in potassium-rich conditions. We present their electronic bandstructure and discuss the interpretation in terms of effective wide-bandgap semiconductors. The microscopic structural and electronic properties of the guanine quadruple helices make them suitable candidates for molecular nanoelectronics.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Applied Physics Letters (2002

Self-assembled guanine ribbons as wide-bandgap semiconductors

We present a first principle study about the stability and the electronic properties of a new biomolecular solid-state material, obtained by the self-assembling of guanine (G) molecules. We consider hydrogen-bonded planar ribbons in isolated and stacked configurations. These aggregates present electronic properties similar to inorganic wide-bandgap semiconductors. The formation of Bloch-type orbitals is observed along the stacking direction, while it is negligible in the ribbon plane. Global band-like conduction may be affected by a dipole-field which spontaneously arises along the ribbon axis. Our results indicate that G-ribbon assemblies are promising materials for biomolecular nanodevices, consistently with recent experimental results.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Physica

Planck-LFI: Design and Performance of the 4 Kelvin Reference Load Unit

The LFI radiometers use a pseudo-correlation design where the signal from the sky is continuously compared with a stable reference signal, provided by a cryogenic reference load system. The reference unit is composed by small pyramidal horns, one for each radiometer, 22 in total, facing small absorbing targets, made of a commercial resin ECCOSORB CR (TM), cooled to approximately 4.5 K. Horns and targets are separated by a small gap to allow thermal decoupling. Target and horn design is optimized for each of the LFI bands, centered at 70, 44 and 30 GHz. Pyramidal horns are either machined inside the radiometer 20K module or connected via external electro-formed bended waveguides. The requirement of high stability of the reference signal imposed a careful design for the radiometric and thermal properties of the loads. Materials used for the manufacturing have been characterized for thermal, RF and mechanical properties. We describe in this paper the design and the performance of the reference system.Comment: This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in JINST. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive publisher authenticated version is available online at [10.1088/1748-0221/4/12/T12006]. 14 pages, 34 figure

Ab-initio study of model guanine assemblies: The role of pi-pi coupling and band transport

Several assemblies of guanine molecules are investigated by means of first-principle calculations. Such structures include stacked and hydrogen-bonded dimers, as well as vertical columns and planar ribbons, respectively, obtained by periodically replicating the dimers. Our results are in good agreement with experimental data for isolated molecules, isolated dimers, and periodic ribbons. For stacked dimers and columns, the stability is affected by the relative charge distribution of the pi orbitals in adjacent guanine molecules. pi-pi coupling in some stacked columns induces dispersive energy bands, while no dispersion is identified in the planar ribbons along the connections of hydrogen bonds. The implications for different materials comprised of guanine aggregates are discussed. The bandstructure of dispersive configurations may justify a contribution of band transport (Bloch type) in the conduction mechanism of deoxyguanosine fibres, while in DNA-like configurations band transport should be negligible.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Ab-Initio Study of Model Guanosine Assemblies: the Role of pi-pi Coupling and Band Transport

Several assemblies of guanine molecules are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. Such structures include stacked and hydrogen-bonded dimers, as well as vertical columns and planar ribbons, respectively, obtained by periodically replicating the dimers. Our results are in good agreement with experimental data for isolated molecules, isolated dimers, and periodic ribbons. For stacked dimers and columns, the stability is affected by the relative charge distribution of the pi orbitals in adjacent guanine molecules. pi-pi coupling in some stacked columns induces dispersive energy bands, while no dispersion is identified in the planar ribbons along the connections of hydrogen bonds. The implications for different materials comprised of guanine aggregates are discussed. The band structure of dispersive configurations may justify a contribution of band transport (Bloch type) in the conduction mechanism of deoxyguanosine fibres, while in DNA-like configurations band transport should be negligible

Oligodeoxyguanylates: A case of self–assembly leading to lyotropic liquid crystals

. The guanosine derivatives d(Gp)1-5G, dissolved in water, give rise to cholesteric and hexagonal mesophases. The results of X-ray Diffraction, Optical Microscopy, Circular Dichroism and Small Angle Neutron Scattering measurements indicate that the building block of the liquid-crystalline phases is a chiral rod, composed of a stacked array of Hoogsteen-bonded guanosine tetramers. The concentration at which the cholesteric phase appears increases with the oligomerisation degree, a pattern that seems to be related to the change of the ratio of negative charge/guanine units along the series. © 1993 IUPA

Self-assembled guanine ribbons as wide-bandgap semiconductors

We present a first principle study about the stability and the electronic properties of a new biomolecular solid-state material, obtained by the self-assembling of guanine (G) molecules. We consider hydrogen-bonded planar ribbons in isolated and stacked configurations. These aggregates present electronic properties similar to inorganic wide-band gap semiconductors. The formation of Bloch-type orbitals is observed along the stacking direction, white it is negligible in the ribbon plane. Global band-like conduction may be affected by a dipole-Field which spontaneously arises along the ribbon axis. Our results indicate that G-ribbon assemblies are promising materials for biomolecular nanodevices, consistently with recent experimental results. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

One pot solution synthesis of cyclic oligodeoxyribonucleotides.

Several cyclic oligodeoxynucleotides with different base composition and size have been prepared from 5',3'-unprotected linear precursors, using a bifunctional phosphorylating reagent. The final deprotected oligomers have been characterized by 1H- and 31P-NMR. The present procedure is particularly useful for millimolar scale syntheses

Ab initio study of model guanine assemblies: The role of pi-pi coupling and band transport

Several assemblies of guanine molecules are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. Such structures include stacked and hydrogen-bonded dimers, as well as vertical columns and planar ribbons, respectively, obtained by periodically replicating the dimers. Our results are in good agreement with experimental data for isolated molecules, isolated dimers, and periodic ribbons. For stacked dimers and columns, the stability is affected by the relative charge distribution of the pi orbitals in adjacent guanine molecules. pi-pi coupling in some stacked columns induces dispersive energy bands, while no dispersion is identified in the planar ribbons along the connections of hydrogen bonds. The implications for different materials comprised of guanine aggregates are discussed. The band structure of dispersive configurations may justify a contribution of band transport (Bloch type) in the conduction mechanism of deoxyguanosine fibres, while in DNA-like configurations band transport should be negligible.Several assemblies of guanine molecules are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. Such structures include stacked and hydrogen-bonded dimers, as well as vertical columns and planar ribbons, respectively, obtained by periodically replicating the dimers. Our results are in good agreement with experimental data for isolated molecules, isolated dimers, and periodic ribbons. For stacked dimers and columns, the stability is affected by the relative charge distribution of the (formula presented) orbitals in adjacent guanine molecules. (formula presented) coupling in some stacked columns induces dispersive energy bands, while no dispersion is identified in the planar ribbons along the connections of hydrogen bonds. The implications for different materials comprised of guanine aggregates are discussed. The band structure of dispersive configurations may justify a contribution of band transport (Bloch type) in the conduction mechanism of deoxyguanosine fibres, while in DNA-like configurations band transport should be negligible. © 2001 The American Physical Society