A terpyridine linker has been synthesised as a template for DNA hairpin formation. In addition to serving as a hairpin loop mimic, the terpyridine can act as a coordination site for divalent transition metals. The Tm of the metallo-hairpin is strongly influenced by the type of the bound metal with Tm's increasing in the order Co²⁺ ~ Ni²⁺ < Zn²⁺ < Cu²⁺ < Pd²⁺.

This work was carried out in the group of Prof. Robert Häner.

References:

• G. Bianké, R. Häner;
  "A Metal-Coordinating DNA Hairpin Mimic"
  ChemBioChem, 5, 1063-1068, (2004); doi:10.1002/cbic.200400030.