Exciton decay mechanism in DNA single strands: back-electron transfer and ultrafast base motions
Benjamin Bauer, Rahul Sharma, Majed Chergui, Malte Oppermann
Abstract
a back-electron transfer. Based on the anisotropy measurements, we propose that this mechanism is accompanied by a structural relaxation of the photoexcited base-stack, involving an inter-base rotation of the nucleotides. Our results finally complete the exciton relaxation mechanism for adenosine single strands and offer a direct view into the coupling of electronic and structural dynamics in aggregated photochemical systems.
Topics & Concepts
Mechanism (biology)Ultrashort pulseExcitonElectron transferElectronBase (topology)DNAChemical physicsAtomic physicsPhysicsChemistryMolecular physicsPhotochemistryOpticsQuantum mechanicsLaserMathematicsMathematical analysisBiochemistryDNA and Nucleic Acid ChemistryPhotochemistry and Electron Transfer StudiesSpectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies