Professor Monte Pettitt
Institute for Molecular Design
University of Houston
Houston, TX

Monday, September 20, 2004
3:00 pm (CT)
3269 Beckman Institute

Abstract

Interfaces between disparate phases of matter offer large electrostatic field and density gradients changing the local free energy surface and therefore form a challenging set of problems in current chemical physics. Experiments on DNA microarrays have revealed substantial differences in hybridization thermodynamics between DNA free in solution and surface tethered DNA. We have developed a mean field model of the effects in DNA arrays to understand the binding isotherms and thermal denaturation of the double helix. Simulations have been used to check this theory of Coulomb induced blockage of the hybridization. The results explain the observed dramatic decrease of the hybridization efficiency and the thermal denaturation/ curve broadening as the probe surface density grows. We demonstrate application of the theory for evaluation and optimization of the sensitivity, specificity and the dynamic range of DNA microarray devices..

Tea and coffee will be served in R3151 Beckman Institute at 2:15pm.