Stabilisation of self-assembled DNA crystals by triplex-directed photo-cross-linking

Abstract

The tensegrity triangle is a robust DNA motif that can selfassemble to generate macroscopic three-dimensional crystals. However, the stability of these crystals is dependent on the high ionic conditions used for crystal growth. by the tensegrity triangle since multiple intercalation events will unwind the DNA and disrupt the precise crossover positioning required for tile and/or crystal assembly. Moreover, since intercalation occurs preferentially at any pyrimidine-purine (YpR) step the cross-linking reaction is not easily controlled. 45Here we demonstrate that the triplex approach to DNA recognition 5a-c can be used to overcome this limitation by directing the specific intercalation, and subsequent photo-crosslinking, of psoralen to unique loci within or between the tiles of the tensegrity triangle crystal (Fig.

High-order structures from nucleic acids for biomedical applications

“…33 Similarly, self-assembling DNA crystals designed to contain two tensegrity triangles per asymmetric unit diffracted to only 5 Å resolution. 34 In recent years, improvements to resolution and crystal stability have been made by incorporating 5 0 terminal phosphates into certain component DNA strands, 35 by changing the length 36 and composition 37 of the sticky ends, and by introducing additional stabilizing DNA strands, 38 crosslinks, 39 and covalent bonds. 40 However, further improvements to resolution will be necessary in order to maximize the utility of DNA crystals as tools for macromolecular structure determination by X-ray crystallography.…”

Synthesis of Responsive Two‐Dimensional Polymers via Self‐Assembled DNA Networks

“…A few years later, Rothemund described the folding of long DNA strands into programmed 2D patterns guided by short DNA single strands. Other examples of DNA nanostructures include cubic and spherical objects, truncated octahedrons, nano‐sized letters, 2D arrays, and 1D ribbons . Along with the obvious advantage of programmability, there are also drawbacks to this approach, such as the need for oligonucleotides in considerable number and length, a demanding sequence design, and the requirement of kinetically controlled hybridization procedures .…”

3D DNA Crystals and Nanotechnology

“…Triplex formation has also been used to introduce photo-crosslinkers site-specifically to the triangle crystals. When activated by UV exposure, these crosslinks enhance crystal thermostability (Figure 8a) [83]. Non-specific chemical crosslinking has been shown to be an effective way of enhancing 13-mer crystal durability under a number of conditions.…”