Self-assembling circuit elements, such as current splitters or combiners at the molecular scale, require the design of building blocks with three or more terminals. A promising material for such building blocks is DNA, wherein multiple strands can self-assemble into multi-ended junctions, and nucleobase stacks can transport charge over long distances. However, nucleobase stacking is often disrupted at junction points, hindering electric charge transport between the two terminals of the junction. Here, we show that a guanine-quadruplex (G4) motif can be used as a connector element for a multi-ended DNA junction. By attaching specific terminal groups to the motif, we demonstrate that charges can enter the structure from one terminal at one end of a three-way G4 motif, and can exit from one of two terminals at the other end with minimal carrier transport attenuation. Moreover, we study four-way G4 junction structures by performing theoretical calculations to assist in the design and optimization of these connectors.

自组装电路元件，例如分子级的电流分配器或组合器，需要设计具有三个或更多端子的构件。用于此类构建模块的有前途的材料是DNA，其中多条链可以自组装成多端连接，而核碱基堆栈可以长距离传输电荷。但是，核碱基的堆积经常在连接点被破坏，从而阻碍了在连接的两个末端之间的电荷传输。在这里，我们显示了鸟嘌呤四联体（G4）主题可以用作多端DNA连接的连接器元件。通过将特定的末端基团连接到基序上，我们证明了电荷可以从三向G4基序一端的一个末端进入结构，并可以从另一端的两个终端之一退出，从而使载流子传输衰减最小。此外，我们通过执行理论计算来研究四向G4结结构，以帮助设计和优化这些连接器。