THz-PCR Based on Resonant Coupling between Middle Infrared and DNA Carbonyl Vibrations

Abstract

The carbonyl groups of deoxyribonucleotide can resonantly couple with 53 THz middle infrared, which can highly transmit water without ionization-based damage to DNA molecules. Herein, we predict that vibrational coupling with THz irradiation could lower down the hybridization landscape of nucleic acids and thus affect DNA replication. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a measure, we found that THz shining can reduce the denature temperature of DNA duplexes by about 3 °C, which allows one to conduct PCR at lower temperature, facilitating long-time amplification reaction without losing enzymatic fidelity, i.e., normal PCR should be carried out at denaturing temperature ∼4 °C higher than the melting temperature (T m), but THz-PCR only requires temperature ∼1 °C higher than T m due to the nonthermal effect of THz shining. Moreover, the melting time can also be shortened to 1/5 due to the enhanced vibration coupling with 53 THz irradiation. We proposed THz-PCR as an innovated DNA amplification technique with ultrahigh specificity and sensitivity and also successfully demonstrated its advantages in forensic detections.

Driving DNA Origami Coassembling by Vibrational Strong Coupling in the Dark

“…This can explain why we selected the more potent coupling wavelength of 8.5 μm to try the VSC in the dark. In addition, our experimental results in this work within the 5.8 μm FP cavity showed almost no well-assembled cross origami compared with that in the 8.5 μm FP cavity (Figure ), consistent with the previously published results. ,, …”

“…In addition, our experimental results in this work within the 5.8 μm FP cavity showed almost no well-assembled cross origami compared with that in the 8.5 μm FP cavity (Figure 3), consistent with the previously published results. 3,4,23 ■ CONCLUSION Through studying the effects of dark VSC on the DNA hybridization landscape by DNA origami coassembling, we have revealed that the VSC between DNA molecules and FP cavities in the dark can significantly facilitate breaking of hydrogen bonds between base pairs, thus lowered down the melting/hybridization landscape of dsDNA, allowing precisely coassembling of DNA origami at temperatures of ∼2 °C lower than that required in merely thermal conditions. We hope this work could further extend the polariton chemistry into the biomedical field.…”

“…In fact, both 5.6 , and 8.5 μm lasers can couple with DNA, specifically the carbonyl vibration and the vibration of the pyridine bases of DNA, respectively. As we know, coupling between light and matter will increase the inner energy of matter or sometimes could be termed “exciting”, which is why the spectrometer can be employed to measure the coupling strength.…”

“…Vibrational strong coupling (VSC) has been used to control chemical reactions by directly changing the energy landscape of molecules. − Molecular vibration transitions can resonantly couple with the optical mode of microcavities, generating two novel hybrid energy states, so-called polaritons (P – , P + ) separated by Rabi splitting (Figure a), which can be simply achieved with a Fabry-Pérot (FP) cavity (Figures b and S1a–c) and visually observed by Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. − Using VSC as an innovative tool for modifying molecular energy landscapes, polariton chemistry − has been developed to regulate chemical reactions, e.g., increasing/decreasing energy landscapes and reaction constants and tilting reaction symmetry . Interestingly, VSC can even occur in the dark, i.e., without any external energy input, which has been the most exciting feature and completely different from the other ways, changing the energy landscape of reactions (e.g., enzymatic catalysis, laser’s nonthermal effects).…”

Spatiotemporal omics of life energy: Towards medicine of frequencies and terahertz drugs

“…34 It was found that the resonant absorption of MIR photons by carboxylic acid groups can promote the unwinding of dsDNA and improve the efficiency of PCR. 32,33 Recent research results from our group also showed that the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts were significantly increased after 1-min 5.6-μm MIRS. 35 In addition, researchers found that laser with specific frequency had a significant effect on repairing the reduced frequency of action potentials in nerve cells due to insufficient ATP supply.…”