Department of Chemistry, Centre for DNA Nanotechnology (CDNA), Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
Nanotechnology. 2011 Jun 10;22(23):235601. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/23/235601. Epub 2011 Apr 7.
The field of DNA nanotechnology has evolved significantly in the past decade. Researchers have succeeded in synthesizing tile-based structures and using them to form periodic lattices in one, two and three dimensions. Origami-based structures have also been used to create nanoscale structures in two and three dimensions. Design and construction of DNA bundles with fixed circumference has added a new dimension to the field. Here we report the design and synthesis of a DNA four-helix bundle. It was found to be extremely rigid and stable. When several such bundles were assembled using appropriate sticky-ends, they formed micrometre-long filaments. However, when creation of two-dimensional sheet-like arrays of the four-helix bundles was attempted, nanoscale rings were observed instead. The exact reason behind the nanoring formation is yet to be ascertained, but it provides an exciting prospect for making programmable circular nanostructures using DNA.
在过去的十年中，DNA 纳米技术领域取得了显著的发展。研究人员已经成功合成了基于瓦片的结构，并利用它们在一维、二维和三维空间中形成周期性晶格。折纸结构也被用于在二维和三维空间中创建纳米级结构。具有固定周长的 DNA 束的设计和构建为该领域增添了一个新的维度。在这里，我们报告了一种 DNA 四螺旋束的设计和合成。结果发现它非常坚硬和稳定。当使用适当的粘性末端组装几个这样的束时，它们形成了几微米长的纤维。然而，当尝试构建二维的四螺旋束片状阵列时，观察到的却是纳米环。纳米环形成的确切原因尚未确定，但它为使用 DNA 制作可编程的圆形纳米结构提供了一个令人兴奋的前景。
