ELECTRON-TRANSFER IN DNA - COVALENT ATTACHMENT OF SPECTROSCOPICALLY UNIQUE DONOR AND ACCEPTOR COMPLEXES

The notion that DNA is capable of electron transfer (ET) has inspired several groups to investigate the nature of this intriguing process. W hile several factors modulate ET reaction rates, the distance dependen ce of ET in DNA is the focus of our current investigations. To this en d we propose that several design criteria must be met to facilitate th e collection of kinetic data corresponding to DNA-mediated ET reaction s. These criteria include (1) covalent attachment of site-selective do nor-acceptor pairs, (2) incorporation of donor-acceptor pairs that off er minimal structural perturbation of the DNA duplex, and (3) use of s pectroscopically distinguishable donor and acceptor complexes that all ow identification of kinetic intermediates.