Objetivo
Liquid crystals formed from linear double-stranded DNA can be used for creating biosensing units for detection of coloured biologically active compounds which form strong complexes with DNA nitrogen bases.
A new type of biosensing unit will be created based on liquid-crystalline dispersions formed from DNA complexes with crosslinking agents, such as polypeptides or synthetic oligoamines which are recognised and split by biologically active compounds such as sandwich type biosensing units. As polypeptides natural protamines which are split by hydrolytic enzymes will be used; as oligoamines - polyconidine, which represents an antagonist for heparin.
In the fundamental field the data obtained will be used for the explanation of the structural organisation of genetic material in biological objects (chromosomes, viral heads), as well as for the estimation of fine peculiarities of interaction of hydrolytic enzymes with compounds incorporated into DNA liquid crystals.
A new technology for conservation of DNA lyotropic liquid crystals in content of synthetic matrices with corresponding conservation of physico-chemical properties specific for cholesteric liquid crystals will also be elaborated. A new type of biosensing unit will be created based on complexes of DNA with crosslinking agents which permits detection of low concentrations of biologically active compounds in biological liquids.