Single-Molecule AFM Study of DNA Damage by 1O2 Generated from Photoexcited C60

J Phys Chem Lett. 2020 Sep 17;11(18):7819-7826. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c02257. Epub 2020 Sep 3.

Abstract

Light-induced oxidative damage of DNA by 1O2 generated from photoexcited C60 was observed at the single-molecule level by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. Two types of DNA origami with uniform morphologies were immobilized on a mica surface and used as DNA substrates. Upon visible light irradiation (528 nm) in the presence of a C60 aqueous solution, the morphology changes of DNA origami substrates were observed by time-lapse AFM imaging at the single-molecule level by tracking a discrete DNA molecule. The origami showed nicked and flattened morphologies with relaxed features caused by the covalent cleavage of the DNA strands. The involvement of 1O2 in the on-surface DNA damage was clearly confirmed by AFM experiments in the presence of a 1O2 quencher and ESR measurements with a spin-trapping agent for 1O2. This study is the first example of single-molecule observation of oxidative damage of DNA by AFM with corresponding morphology changes in a photocontrolled and time-dependent manner by 1O2 generated catalytically from photoexcited C60.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Aluminum Silicates / chemistry
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA Damage*
  • Fullerenes / chemistry*
  • Light
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Photochemical Processes*
  • Singlet Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Aluminum Silicates
  • Fullerenes
  • Singlet Oxygen
  • DNA
  • fullerene C60
  • mica