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Liansheng Ling

Publications and source records attributed to Liansheng Ling.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Rupture force between the third strand and the double strand within a triplex DNA.

The rupture force to separate the third strand and the duplex within a triplex DNA was measured by means of atomic force spectroscopy. The tip and the sample surfaces were functionalized by oligodeoxyribonucleotides 5'-TTCTTCTTTCTTTTCCTTTTCTTTCTTCTTACTTCTCTCTCTC TCTCTCT-SH-3'. The sample surface was hybridized with 5'-AAGAAGAAAGAAAAGGAAAAGAAAGAAGAA-3' to form a double strand DNA on the surface prior to the force measurements. These sequences form triple helices with 30 base pairs under a pH of 5.8 and in the presence of 2.0 mM spermine. Signals of rupture of single and multiple triplex DNA were observed in the force distance curves. Rupture force histograms revealed a force of 42.6 +/- 1.9 pN from 24 independent measurements at a tip velocity of 400 nm/s to separate the third strand from duplex DNA. The velocity dependence of the rupture force quantum indicates a thermal dissociation process similar to that of rupturing a ds-DNA. The number of rupture events was controlled by adding oligonucleotides 5'-AAGAAGAAAGAAAAGGAAAAGAAAGAAGAA-3' either to reduce or to initiate triplex formation.

Base Sequence↗

Self-assembling of helical poly(phenylacetylene) carrying L-valine pendants in solution, on mica substrate, and on water surface.

In the present work, we investigated self-assembling of a poly(phenylacetylene) carrying L-valine pendants (PPA-Val) in a water/methanol solution, upon evaporation of the solution on mica, and on the water surface. With intercalation of a fluorescence probe of Ru(phen)2(dppx)2+ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dppx=7,8-dimethyldipyridophenazine) into the hydrophobic cavities associated by the PPA-Val chains, their helical structures were directly detected in solution with an in situ fluorescence microscope. Helical aggregates were observed with AFM upon evaporation of the solvents, suggesting that the helical structures in the solution are the building blocks of the helical aggregates. Self-assembling structures of PPA-Val on the water surface were, however, very different from that formed upon evaporation of its THF solution on the mica surface. The polymer chains associated into a monolayer of extended fibers on the water surface, whereas superhelical fibers formed on the mica surface. Water molecules play a critical role in inducing the polymer to form diverse morphological structures in its bulk solution and on its surface. In solution, the isotropic hydrophobic effect drove the polymer chains to form superhelical aggregates, while on the water surface, the hydrophobic effect concentrated mainly on the lateral part of the polymer, thus giving a monolayer of extended fibers.

Acetylene↗

Specific aptamer-protein interaction studied by atomic force microscopy.

Aptamers are a new class of synthetic DNA/RNA oligonucleotides generated from in vitro selection to selectively bind with various molecules. Due to their molecular recognition capability for proteins, aptamers are becoming promising reagents in protein detection and new drug development. In this study, the specific interaction between the protein immunoglobulin E (IgE) and its 37-nt aptamer has been measured directly by atomic force microscopy. The single-molecule unbinding force between IgE and the aptamer is determined using the Poisson statistical method. The individual unbinding force between IgE and its monoclonal antibody has also been obtained and compared to that between IgE and the aptamer. The results reveal the high affinity of the aptamer to protein, which could match or even surpass that of the antibody to its antigen.

Humans↗