Non‐covalent Single Transcription Factor Encapsulation Inside a DNA Cage

Abstract

CAP‐turing the moment: A cage made from DNA can be used to encapsulate a transcription factor (catabolite activator protein, CAP; see figure) without covalent attachment. CAP is shown to stably bind inside the DNA cage at a 1:1 ratio by bending one edge to accommodate the protein. Single‐molecule fluorescence measurements confirm the orientation of CAP within the cage.

Functionalized DNA Nanostructures for Nanomedicine

“…For example, there have been various reports of the assembly of hollow DNA cages to encapsulate nanoparticles [65][66][67] and proteins, [68,69] other carriers that display cargo molecules on their surface, [70] and simple double-helical structures that intercalating drugs can be loaded into. [71,72] Meanwhile, because DNA objects can function as reconfigurable nanomachines, [14,68] it is expected that DNA nanostructures can be translated into controllable drug-release vehicles.…”

Nanotechnology and the Unique Role of DNA

“…In another important class of nanostructures, the DNA motif is not metabolized or processed, but simply recognized by the incoming proteins, thus serving as a molecular tag, for example, for targeting of transcription factors [29] or site-specific positioning of DNA-binding protein adaptors [79,80]. A large family of functional DNA nanostructures relies on the use of DNA aptamers for biosensing applications.…”

“…Besides solving design challenges, scientists rapidly succeeded in demonstrating the use of those structures for realistic applications, from the development of addressable molecular pegboards for protein patterning [24][25][26][27] or encapsulation [28][29][30][31][32], to optoelectronic hybrid materials [33] and organic catalysts [34]. Another field in great expansion is coupled to the advancement of single-molecule technologies, enabling for example the precise localization and counting of molecules in spatially distributed samples or the disclosure of anomalous kinetic events occurring on a time scale normally not accessible by standard methods [8,[35][36][37][38][39][40].…”

DNA nanotechnology: understanding and optimisation through simulation

“…The therapeutic potential of DNA nanotechnology has long been recognised. Nanostructures can encapsulate molecules either covalently or non-covalently 70,71 , with the aim of selectively releasing them at the surface of or inside specific cells. Alternatively, nanostructures can coordinate biomolecules to mimic pathogens, potentially triggering stronger immune responses 72,73,74 and allowing the design of novel vaccines 72 .…”