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From molecular to macroscopic via the rational design of a self-assembled 3D DNA crystal

Author

Listed:
  • Jianping Zheng

    (New York University)

  • Jens J. Birktoft

    (New York University)

  • Yi Chen

    (Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA)

  • Tong Wang

    (New York University)

  • Ruojie Sha

    (New York University)

  • Pamela E. Constantinou

    (New York University
    Present address: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, MS-142, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.)

  • Stephan L. Ginell

    (Structural Biology Center, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA)

  • Chengde Mao

    (Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA)

  • Nadrian C. Seeman

    (New York University)

Abstract

Designer DNA crystals Creating a macroscopic object, such as a crystal, with the microscopic molecular structure desired is a challenge. One promising approach is the use of macromolecules with robust three-dimensional motifs and sticky ends so that, by attaching to one another, they can form a periodic arrangement that can be investigated by crystallographic techniques. Zheng et al. use DNA for this purpose, arranged in a structural motif called a tensegrity triangle, and can grow crystals of the order of 200 micrometres in size, in which the positions of the atoms can be determined with a precision of 4 Å. The highly specific interaction between complementary DNA strands makes it possible to realize the desired and designed structure for the unit cell of the crystal. The latter also exhibits periodic holes, which could potentially be used to host biomolecules in a three-dimensional periodic arrangement, making it possible to determine their structure even if they do not crystallize on their own.

Suggested Citation

  • Jianping Zheng & Jens J. Birktoft & Yi Chen & Tong Wang & Ruojie Sha & Pamela E. Constantinou & Stephan L. Ginell & Chengde Mao & Nadrian C. Seeman, 2009. "From molecular to macroscopic via the rational design of a self-assembled 3D DNA crystal," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7260), pages 74-77, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:461:y:2009:i:7260:d:10.1038_nature08274
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08274
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    Cited by:

    1. Chad R. Simmons & Tara MacCulloch & Miroslav Krepl & Michael Matthies & Alex Buchberger & Ilyssa Crawford & Jiří Šponer & Petr Šulc & Nicholas Stephanopoulos & Hao Yan, 2022. "The influence of Holliday junction sequence and dynamics on DNA crystal self-assembly," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Sungwook Woo & Sinem K. Saka & Feng Xuan & Peng Yin, 2024. "Molecular robotic agents that survey molecular landscapes for information retrieval," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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