Addressable molecular tweezers for DNA-templated coupling reactions

Nano Lett. 2006 May;6(5):978-83. doi: 10.1021/nl060212f.

Abstract

Here we report the construction of fully addressable DNA-based molecular tweezers to actuate coupling reactions in a programmable fashion. Three tweezers, each bearing two coupling reactants, are self-assembled on a linear DNA track. A fourth tweezer floating freely in solution can be brought to any one of the tweezers and close them by the addition of a unique pair of "fuel" DNA strands. The coupling reactions happen when the tweezers are closed, and this can be controlled sequentially from one tweezer to another. A molecular device of this kind would not only enable programmable chemical reactions but also allow distance-dependent control of biomolecular interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Molecular Biology / instrumentation*
  • Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes
  • triplex DNA
  • DNA