DNA Mediated Energy Transfer in vivo Implications
Dateline: 03/01/00

Considering that most of these experiments took place in vitro, imagine how this property of DNA might be important within DNA's native environment or in vivo . For instance, if a current were sent through DNA wrapped around histones within a tightly wrapped chromosome, the resulting magnetic field could induce important conformational changes within the system. Charge transfers through DNA may explain pseudogenes and the C-value paradox. For instance, the mysterious "AT-rich repeats" and "poly-A" tails on RNA would be especially efficient "pi-ways" for long range electron transport. Furthermore, consider the fact that virtually all natural DNA is right handed, meaning that as one moves along a DNA molecule in either direction the backbone will turn clockwise[5]. While our currently in depth knowledge of DNA transcription, translation and replication has no solid explanation for why DNA should be so exclusively right handed, it could be explained in simple terms by basic electromagnetics. If the charge were to move along a right handed helical path, the resulting magnetic field would push like charges surrounding the moving charge backwards as it moves along, thus allowing the charge to continue to move without being repelled back. However, If the helix were left handed, a moving charge would end up pushing like charged molecules in the same direction that it is traveling, thus impeding its own path[6].

The potential applications of DNA mediated charge transfers have not escaped the notice of nanoscientists. Researchers have taken advantage of the unique recognition properties of DNA resulting from Watson and Crick base pairing to selectively assemble quantum dots, the basic components of quantum computers, with DNA strands[7]. As microelectronic devices begin to function on the same scale as life, more of the resources available to living organisms are becoming available to computers. It has been estimated that such bottom-up design could result in memory densities of about 4 million Gbyte/cm³[8, 9]. While our current top-down fabrication methods are limited by our ability to economically make components small enough, "Bottom-up" design is plagued by the reverse of the top-down limit, that is, creating large finely patterned structures. Presently, the two nanometer diameter of a DNA molecule is too small to allow simple integration into modern electronic devices. However, recent progress has been made in the use of DNA bottom-up design towards creating circuit sizes as large as 100nm[10]. Hence, the limits of bottom-up and top-down design are beginning to overlap.

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Thank you Christof Niemeyer for the most excellent discussion.

References

[5] This effect can easily be seen in a Slinky, although some Slinkies are left handed.

[6] I made this paragraph up from my basic knowledge of physics and biology but have no references. Although the ideas seem obvious enough to me I have been unable to find any literature dealing with them. If anyone either finds some literature or disagrees with my imagination please let me know.

[7] James J. storhoff, Chad A. Mirkin, Programmed materials synthesis with DNA, Chem. Rev. (1999) 1849-1862. ACS Freesearch

[8] B. H. Robinson, N.C. Seeman, Protein Eng. 1, 295 (1987). Abstract; homepage

[9] N. C. Seeman, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (1998) 37, 3220. No. 23 1998 Contents; bibliography

[10] Niemeyer, C.M., Progress in "engineering up" nanotechnology devices utilizing DNA as a construction material, Appl. Phys. A, 68, 119-124 (1999). Abstract; Homepage

Keywords: DNA mediated energy transfer in vivo electromagnetic induction chromosomal assembly pseudogenes c-value paradox AT-rich repeat poly-A tail biomolecular nanotechnology nanoscience quantum dot assembly microelectronic bottom-up top-down memory density histones pi-way long range electron transort conformation helix chirality right handed cell fabrication 100 nm overlap