NSET molecular beacon analysis of hammerhead RNA substrate binding and catalysis.

Jennings, T L; Schlatterer, J C; Singh, M P; Greenbaum, N L; Strouse, G F · Nano Lett · 2006

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Nanometal surface energy transfer (NSET), which describes an energy transfer event from optically excited organic fluorophores to small metal nanoparticles, may be used as a molecular beacon/ruler similar to FRET, but with advantages over this classical technique. Here we use NSET to measure Mg(2+)-induced conformational changes for a hammerhead ribozyme and confirm these measurements using FRET. These optical experiments enhance our understanding of the different kinetic pathways for this ribozyme.

Medical subject headings