DNA gridiron nanostructures based on four-arm junctions

Science. 2013 Mar 22;339(6126):1412-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1232252.

Abstract

Engineering wireframe architectures and scaffolds of increasing complexity is one of the important challenges in nanotechnology. We present a design strategy to create gridiron-like DNA structures. A series of four-arm junctions are used as vertices within a network of double-helical DNA fragments. Deliberate distortion of the junctions from their most relaxed conformations ensures that a scaffold strand can traverse through individual vertices in multiple directions. DNA gridirons were assembled, ranging from two-dimensional arrays with reconfigurability to multilayer and three-dimensional structures and curved objects.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / ultrastructure*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nanostructures*
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*

Substances

  • DNA