DNA calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolution

Abstract DNA hybridization is a fundamental molecular reaction with wide-ranging applications in biotechnology. The knowledge of the temperature dependence of the thermodynamic parameters of duplex formation is crucial for quantitative predictions throughout the DNA stability range. It is commonly a...

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Main Authors: P. Rissone, M. Rico-Pasto, S. B. Smith, F. Ritort
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57340-5
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author P. Rissone
M. Rico-Pasto
S. B. Smith
F. Ritort
author_facet P. Rissone
M. Rico-Pasto
S. B. Smith
F. Ritort
author_sort P. Rissone
collection DOAJ
description Abstract DNA hybridization is a fundamental molecular reaction with wide-ranging applications in biotechnology. The knowledge of the temperature dependence of the thermodynamic parameters of duplex formation is crucial for quantitative predictions throughout the DNA stability range. It is commonly assumed that enthalpies and entropies are temperature independent, and heat capacity changes ΔC p equal zero. However, it has been known that this assumption is a poor approximation for a long time. Here, we combine single-DNA mechanical unzipping experiments using a temperature jump optical trap with a tailored statistical analysis to derive the ten heat-capacity change parameters of the nearest-neighbor model. Calorimetric force spectroscopy establishes a groundbreaking approach to studying nucleic acids that can be further extended to chemically modified DNA, RNA, and DNA/RNA hybrid structures.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-192de5857f0e4769b5a14367c448cc712025-08-20T03:41:42ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-57340-5DNA calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolutionP. Rissone0M. Rico-Pasto1S. B. Smith2F. Ritort3Small Biosystems Lab, Condensed Matter Physics Departement, Universitat de BarcelonaUnit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de BarcelonaSteven B. Smith EngineeringSmall Biosystems Lab, Condensed Matter Physics Departement, Universitat de BarcelonaAbstract DNA hybridization is a fundamental molecular reaction with wide-ranging applications in biotechnology. The knowledge of the temperature dependence of the thermodynamic parameters of duplex formation is crucial for quantitative predictions throughout the DNA stability range. It is commonly assumed that enthalpies and entropies are temperature independent, and heat capacity changes ΔC p equal zero. However, it has been known that this assumption is a poor approximation for a long time. Here, we combine single-DNA mechanical unzipping experiments using a temperature jump optical trap with a tailored statistical analysis to derive the ten heat-capacity change parameters of the nearest-neighbor model. Calorimetric force spectroscopy establishes a groundbreaking approach to studying nucleic acids that can be further extended to chemically modified DNA, RNA, and DNA/RNA hybrid structures.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57340-5
spellingShingle P. Rissone
M. Rico-Pasto
S. B. Smith
F. Ritort
DNA calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolution
Nature Communications
title DNA calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolution
title_full DNA calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolution
title_fullStr DNA calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolution
title_full_unstemmed DNA calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolution
title_short DNA calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolution
title_sort dna calorimetric force spectroscopy at single base pair resolution
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57340-5
work_keys_str_mv AT prissone dnacalorimetricforcespectroscopyatsinglebasepairresolution
AT mricopasto dnacalorimetricforcespectroscopyatsinglebasepairresolution
AT sbsmith dnacalorimetricforcespectroscopyatsinglebasepairresolution
AT fritort dnacalorimetricforcespectroscopyatsinglebasepairresolution