Fluorescence modulation of long DNA molecules adsorbed onto a microelectrode surface

Abstract
Using microfabricated electrodes, we demonstrate fluorescence modulation of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) stained with dye through the application of cyclic electric fields. The fluorescence of DNA adsorbed onto an electrode was quenched under the potentials greater than about 1 V, and was recovered by reducing the potentials to below about 0.6 V. The quenching was observed even for a single DNA molecule adsorbed on an electrode. Therefore, the fluorescence modulation of DNA by external electric fields can be expected as one of selective detection methods for adsorbed DNA onto electrodes.