Charge transport in poly(dG)-poly(dC) and poly(dA)-poly(dT) DNA polymers

Abstract

We investigate the charge transport in synthetic DNA polymers built up from single types of base pairs. In the context of a polaron-like model, for which an electronic tight-binding system and bond vibrations of the double helix are coupled, we present estimates for the electron-vibration coupling strengths utilizing a quantum-chemical procedure. Subsequent studies concerning the mobility of polaron solutions, representing the state of a localized charge in unison with its associated helix deformation, show that the system for poly(dG)-poly(dC) and poly(dA)-poly(dT) DNA polymers, respectively possess quantitatively distinct transport properties. While the former supports unidirectionally moving electron breathers attributed to highly efficient long-range conductivity the breather mobility in the latter case is comparatively restrained inhibiting charge transport. Our results are in agreement with recent experimental results demonstrating that poly(dG)-poly(dC) DNA molecules acts as a semiconducting nanowire and exhibits better conductance than poly(dA)-poly(dT) ones.

11 pages, 5 figures