Applications of synchrotron‐based spectroscopic techniques in studying nucleic acids and nucleic‐acid‐based nanomaterials

This chapter summarizes the applications of synchrotron‐based spectroscopic techniques used to characterize nucleic acids. It reviews a few examples that illustrate some of the important principles governing the assembly of nucleic‐acid‐based materials systems. The chapter then focuses on the recent development and applications of small angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS) in structural studies of nucleic acids. It also reviews the recent progress in using SAXS for characterizing DNA‐based and DNA‐functionalized 3D nanomaterial assemblies. The chapter also summarizes the progress made in using synchrotron‐based spectroscopic techniques for the characterization of nucleic acids and related nucleic‐acids‐based or ‐templated nanomaterials. It describes time‐resolved synchrotron X‐ray footprinting in studying the folding of nucleic acid structures. The chapter covers the application of synchrotron radiation in studying DNA‐based functional materials, including DNA nanostructures, such as DNA 3D origami structures and DNA‐functionalized nanoparticle 3D assemblies, as well as DNA‐lipid interactions.