Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States.
J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Feb 8;139(5):1782-1785. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b12528. Epub 2017 Jan 27.
DNA is now one of the most widely used molecules for programmed self-assembly of discrete nanostructures. One of the long-standing goals of the DNA nanotechnology field has been the assembly of periodic, macroscopic 3D DNA crystals for controlled positioning of guest molecules to be used in a variety of applications. With continuing successes in assembling DNA crystals, there is an enhanced need to tailor macroscopic crystal properties-including morphology-to enable their integration into more complex systems. Here we describe the ability to alter and control crystal habits of a 3D DNA crystal formed by self-assembly of a DNA 13-mer. The introduction of "poison" oligonucleotides that specifically disrupt critical noncanonical base-pairing interactions in the crystal lattice leads to predictably modified crystal habits. We demonstrate that the poison oligomers can act as habit modifiers both during the initial crystallization and during growth of shell layers on a crystal macroseed.
DNA 现在是用于离散纳米结构的程序化自组装的最广泛使用的分子之一。DNA 纳米技术领域的长期目标之一是组装周期性的、宏观的 3D DNA 晶体，以便将客体分子定位到各种应用中。随着 DNA 晶体组装的不断成功，需要进一步调整宏观晶体特性——包括形态——以实现它们与更复杂系统的集成。在这里，我们描述了改变和控制由 DNA 13 聚体自组装形成的 3D DNA 晶体晶体习性的能力。引入专门破坏晶体晶格中关键非规范碱基配对的“毒药”寡核苷酸，可导致可预测的晶体习性改变。我们证明，毒药寡聚物可以在初始结晶过程中和在晶体宏观种子上的壳层生长过程中充当习性修饰物。
