Hezy Cohen

SP1 protein-based nanostructures and arrays.

Controlled formation of complex nanostructures is one of the main goals of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Stable Protein 1 (SP1) is a boiling-stable ring protein complex, 11 nm in diameter, which self-assembles from 12 identical monomers. SP1 can be utilized to form large ordered arrays; it can be easily modified by genetic engineering to produce various mutants; it is also capable of binding gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and thus forming protein-GNP chains made of alternating SP1s and GNPs. We report the formation and the protocols leading to the formation of those nanostructures and their characterization by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electrostatic force microscopy. Further control over the GNP interdistances within the protein-GNP chains may lead to the formation of nanowires and structures that may be useful for nanoelectronics.

Electrical characterization of self-assembled single- and double-stranded DNA monolayers using conductive AFM

We recently reported electrical transport measurements through double-stranded (ds)DNA molecules that are embedded in a self-assembled monolayer of single-stranded (ss)DNA and attached to a metal substrate and to a gold nanoparticle (GNP) on opposite ends. The measured current flowing through the dsDNA amounts to 220 nA at 2 V. In the present report we compare electrical transport through an ssDNA monolayer and dsDNA monolayers with and without upper thiol end-groups. The measurements are done with a conductive atomic force microscope (AFM) using various techniques. We find that the ssDNA monolayer is unable to transport current. The dsDNA monolayer without thiols in the upper end can transport low current on rare occasions and the dsDNA monolayer with thiols on both ends can transport significant current but with a much lower reliability and reproducibility than the GNP-connected dsDNA. These results reconfirm the ability of dsDNA to transport electrical current under the appropriate conditions, demonstrate the efficiency of an ssDNA monolayer as an insulating layer, and emphasize the crucial role of an efficient charge injection through covalent bonding for electrical transport in single dsDNA molecules.

Poly(dG)-poly(dC) DNA appears shorter than poly(dA)-poly(dT) and possibly adopts an A-related conformation on a mica surface under ambient conditions.

Three types of DNA: ∼2700 bp polydeoxyguanylic olydeoxycytidylic acid [poly(dG)–poly(dC)], ∼2700 bp polydeoxyadenylic polydeoxythymidylic acid [poly(dA)–poly(dT)] and 2686 bp linear plasmid pUC19 were deposited on a mica surface and imaged by atomic force microscopy. Contour length measurements show that the average length of poly(dG)–poly(dC) is ∼30% shorter than that of poly(dA)–poly(dT) and the plasmid. This led us to suggest that individual poly(dG)–poly(dC) molecules are immobilized on mica under ambient conditions in a form which is likely related to the A‐form of DNA in contrast to poly(dA)–poly(dT) and random sequence DNA which are immobilized in a form that is related to the DNA B‐form.

Tight-Binding Description of the STM Image of Molecular Chains

A tight binding model for scanning tunneling microscopy images of a molecule adsorbed on a metal surface is described. The model is similar in spirit to that used to analyze conduction along molecular wires connecting two metal leads and makes it possible to relate these two measurements and the information that may be gleaned from the corresponding results. In particular, the dependence of molecular conduction properties along and across a molecular chain on the chain length, intersite electronic coupling strength and on thermal and disorder effects are discussed and contrasted. It is noted that structural or chemical defects that may affect drastically the conduction along a molecular chain have a relatively modest influence on conduction across the molecular wire in the transversal direction.

Specific and efficient adsorption of phosphorothioated DNA on Au-based surfaces and electrodes

Efficient attachment of DNA to metal surfaces or electrodes is essential for charge-transport measurements, scanning tunneling microscopy, and for devices and sensors. To optimize DNA deposition on Au-based surfaces and electrodes, we synthesized DNA with phosphorothioate (PT) groups attached to the G strand of poly(deoxyguanine)-poly(deoxycytosine) [poly(dG)-poly(dC)]. This procedure strongly improves the DNA anchoring to Au-based surfaces by sulfur-gold interaction. Much higher molecular surface density on Au substrates was observed for PT poly(dG)-poly(dC) compared to “bare” molecules. Deposition of PT poly(dG)-poly(dC) on Au-based electrodes, followed by thorough washing, showed that they specifically attach to the electrodes and are not spread on the surrounding SiO2 surface.