Development of a sensor to study the DNA conformation using molecular logic gates

•Effect of DNA conformation on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between two laser dyes.•Increase in pH cause the denaturation of DNA followed by coil formation of single stranded DNA.•Change in FRET efficiency due to change in DNA conformation.•Idea about DNA conformation from the change in FRET efficiency using molecular logic gate.

This communication reports our investigations on the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between two laser dyes Acriflavine and Rhodamine B in absence and presence of DNA at different pH. It has been observed that energy transfer efficiency is largely affected by the presence of DNA as well as the pH of the system. It is well known that with increase in pH, DNA conformation changes from double stranded to single stranded (denaturation) and finally form random coil. Based on our experimental results two different types of molecular logic gates namely, XOR and OR logic have been demonstrated which can be used to have an idea about DNA conformation in solution.

Graphical abstractChange in DNA conformation with increasing pH of solution.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide