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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Jan 21.
Published in final edited form as: Cell Chem Biol. 2016 Jan 21;23(1):183–197. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2015.11.010

Figure 1. Comparison of DNA and graphite structures.

Figure 1

Spacing between adjacent base pairs in DNA (3.4 Å) is similar to the planar spacing in graphite (z-direction). This close proximity of aromatic base-pairs allows for significant oribital overlap along the DNA helix, resulting in π-stacking of the DNA bases. The structural similarity between graphite, a known conductive material, and DNA was an initial clue to the conductivity of DNA. PDB file 3BSE (DNA).

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