G?Quartets, 4?Way Junctions and Triple Helices but Not DNA Duplexes: Planarization of Twisted Push–Pull Flipper Probes by Surface Recognition Rather Than Physical Compression

Planarizable push–pull flipper probes have been introduced to image order and tension of membranes in living cells. In this report, we show that fluorescent flippers can also be planarized by chemical interactions on DNA architectures rather than physical forces biomembranes. Compared fluorescence water, the planarization parallel cMyc G-quartets is characterized a 100 nm red shift excitation maximum strong increase intensity. A coinciding emission compared ordered reveals occurs water-accessible surface within G-quartets. Less relevant for compression ground state hydrophobic membranes, functional relevance solvatochromism excited state, reflected shifts excitation, unprecedented introduces attractive dual sensing perspectives. With decreasing efficiency, are antiparallel hTel22 G-quartets, 4-way junctions triple helices, while aromatic B-DNA duplexes too small enough ? stacking. These remarkably consistent results expand understanding planarizable enable applications new directions.