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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A New Look for DNA: Shifting Shapes and Changing Colors

Mai, Danielle

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/75837

Description

Title
A New Look for DNA: Shifting Shapes and Changing Colors
Author(s)
Mai, Danielle
Contributor(s)
  • Loudermilk, Dorothy
  • Marciel, Amanda
  • Schroeder, Charles
Issue Date
2015
Keyword(s)
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Date of Ingest
2015-04-23T18:41:35Z
Abstract
Synthetic chemistry helps DNA molecules take on new shapes and structures, such as the various comb polymers in this image. Long, colorful DNA branches are attached to chemically modified chains. We observe the resulting molecules via fluorescence microscopy, which allows us to watch stretched DNA chains retract like elastic rubber bands (upper right and bottom insets; scale bars equal 2 microns and frames taken 2.5 seconds apart). With two-color labeling and imaging, we can track different parts of the molecule as time progresses. We study these molecules to better understand the impact of molecular structure in polymeric systems, such as everyday plastics, polymer-based drug delivery systems, and energy biomasses.
Type of Resource
  • text
  • image
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/75837
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2015 Danielle Mai

Owning Collections

Image of Research - Graduate Students PRIMARY