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. 2017 Apr 21;3(4):e1602803. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1602803

Fig. 1. Working principle of the pH-sensitive plasmonic metamolecules.

Fig. 1

(A) Top left: CGC and TAT triplets can be formed through the combination of Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen interactions. Bottom left: The formation of the CGC triplets requires protonation of cytosines, and they are only stable at acidic pH values. In contrast, the TAT triplets are stable at pH values below 10 and unfold because of deprotonation of thymines. Right: pH-triggered DNA lock. (B) pH regulation of the DNA origami–based chiral metamolecules. The metamolecules can be switched between the relaxed and the LH/RH state by opening or closing the pH-triggered DNA locks.