Sequence-dependent spin-selective tunneling along double-stranded DNA

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that double-stranded DNA can act as a sequence-dependent spin filter for electrons, with potential applications in DNA-based spintronic devices, and shows that spin polarization is highly influenced by the DNA sequence and mutations.

Contribution

It reveals the sequence-dependent spin-filtering properties of dsDNA and highlights the importance of the end segment in determining spin polarization, advancing DNA spintronics research.

Findings

Spin polarization depends strongly on DNA sequence.

Genomic and artificial DNA can serve as efficient spin filters.

Spin-filtering effects are sensitive to mutations in the end segment.

Abstract

We report spin-selective tunneling of electrons along natural and artificial double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) sandwiched by nonmagnetic leads. The results reveal that the spin polarization strongly depends on the dsDNA sequence and is dominated by its end segment. Both genomic and artificial dsDNA could be efficient spin filters. The spin-filtering effects are sensitive to point mutation which occurs in the end segment. These results are in good agreement with recent experiments and are robust against various types of disorder, and could help for designing DNA-based spintronic devices.