Cooperativity in DNA object self assembly

Abstract

Two methods, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, were used to monitor the initial steps in self assembly of DNA block structures which fuse to form two dimensional nanoarrays. The model system studied consisted of three strands of DNA, two non-interacting strands, and a crossover strand which crosslinks the other two strands. Assembly of this system appears to progress stepwise. Comparison of the assembly temperatures with theory indicates that disjoint sequences may display limited cooperativity.