Peptide nucleic acid–metal complex conjugates: facile modulation of PNA–DNA duplex stability

Conjugates of peptide nucleic acids (PNA) and metal binding ligands were prepared using solid-phase synthesis. Stability of duplexes of bis-picolylamine–PNA conjugates and DNA was found to be modulated by equimolar concentrations of bioavailable metal ions: Ni2+, Zn2+>Cu2+. Sequence specificity of PNA was not compromised in the presence of these metal ions.