Review
----------------------------------------------------------
Nature Nanotechnology 2, 275 - 284 (2007)doi:10.1038/nnano.2007.104
DNA nanomachines
----------------------------------------------------------
Nature Nanotechnology 2, 275 - 284 (2007)doi:10.1038/nnano.2007.104
DNA nanomachines
Jonathan Bath1 & Andrew J. Turberfield1
----------------------------------------------------------
Abstract
We are learning to build synthetic molecular machinery from DNA. This research is inspired by biological systems in which individual molecules act, singly and in concert, as specialized machines: our ambition is to create new technologies to perform tasks that are currently beyond our reach. DNA nanomachines are made by self-assembly, using techniques that rely on the sequence-specific interactions that bind complementary oligonucleotides together in a double helix. They can be activated by interactions with specific signalling molecules or by changes in their environment. Devices that change state in response to an external trigger might be used for molecular sensing, intelligent drug delivery or programmable chemical synthesis. Biological molecular motors that carry cargoes within cells have inspired the construction of rudimentary DNA walkers that run along self-assembled tracks. It has even proved possible to create DNA motors that move autonomously, obtaining energy by catalysing the reaction of DNA or RNA fuels.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction
The remarkable specificity of the interactions between complementary nucleotides makes DNA a useful construction material: interactions between short strands of DNA can be controlled with confidence through design of their base sequences (Box 1) The building material. http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v2/n5/box/nnano.2007.104_BX1.html
The construction of branched junctions between double helices1 makes it possible to create complex three-dimensional objects2, 3, 4, 5, such as the tetrahedron5 shown in Fig. 1, by self-assembly. One way to exploit this extraordinarily precise architectural control is to use self-assembled DNA templates to position functional molecules: examples include molecular electronic circuits6, 7, near-field optical devices8 and enzyme networks9.
Figure 1: Self-assembly of a nanometre-scale object.The DNA tetrahedron5 has relatively stiff double-stranded edges linked by flexible single-stranded hinges. A cargo, for example a protein48, can be trapped in the central cavity of the tetrahedron. Mechanical devices built from DNA could be used to open the tetrahedron (R. P. Goodman, M. Heilemann, A. N. Kapenidis & A.J.T., manuscript in preparation) to control access to the cargo.
Fig 1
----------------------------------------------------------
Abstract
We are learning to build synthetic molecular machinery from DNA. This research is inspired by biological systems in which individual molecules act, singly and in concert, as specialized machines: our ambition is to create new technologies to perform tasks that are currently beyond our reach. DNA nanomachines are made by self-assembly, using techniques that rely on the sequence-specific interactions that bind complementary oligonucleotides together in a double helix. They can be activated by interactions with specific signalling molecules or by changes in their environment. Devices that change state in response to an external trigger might be used for molecular sensing, intelligent drug delivery or programmable chemical synthesis. Biological molecular motors that carry cargoes within cells have inspired the construction of rudimentary DNA walkers that run along self-assembled tracks. It has even proved possible to create DNA motors that move autonomously, obtaining energy by catalysing the reaction of DNA or RNA fuels.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction
The remarkable specificity of the interactions between complementary nucleotides makes DNA a useful construction material: interactions between short strands of DNA can be controlled with confidence through design of their base sequences (Box 1) The building material. http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v2/n5/box/nnano.2007.104_BX1.html
The construction of branched junctions between double helices1 makes it possible to create complex three-dimensional objects2, 3, 4, 5, such as the tetrahedron5 shown in Fig. 1, by self-assembly. One way to exploit this extraordinarily precise architectural control is to use self-assembled DNA templates to position functional molecules: examples include molecular electronic circuits6, 7, near-field optical devices8 and enzyme networks9.
Figure 1: Self-assembly of a nanometre-scale object.The DNA tetrahedron5 has relatively stiff double-stranded edges linked by flexible single-stranded hinges. A cargo, for example a protein48, can be trapped in the central cavity of the tetrahedron. Mechanical devices built from DNA could be used to open the tetrahedron (R. P. Goodman, M. Heilemann, A. N. Kapenidis & A.J.T., manuscript in preparation) to control access to the cargo.
Fig 1
It is an obvious extension of this research to convert static DNA structures into machines. DNA is not the natural choice of material to build active structures with because it lacks the structural and catalytic versatility of proteins and RNA (for both DNA and RNA, Watson–Crick base pairing is the strongest interaction determining inter- and intramolecular interactions, but RNA has a much richer repertoire of weaker non-covalent interactions that can stabilize complex structures10). If we could cope with the interactions required for a three-dimensional fold we would design more competent machines made, as in nature, from RNA and proteins11, 12. We make nanomachines from DNA because the simplicity of its structure and interactions allows us to control its assembly.
In this review we concentrate on research that is leading towards the development of synthetic molecular motors. We start by showing how DNA nanostructures can be made to switch between two states in response to molecular or environmental signals; we describe how a device can be moved along a track by operating molecular switches in the correct sequence; we finish with an account of the current state of development of autonomous molecular motors that are inspired by the natural protein motors myosin and kinesin. Closely related work on DNA sensors and DNA-templated chemistry is described briefly in Boxes 2 (Sensors that can process information
In this review we concentrate on research that is leading towards the development of synthetic molecular motors. We start by showing how DNA nanostructures can be made to switch between two states in response to molecular or environmental signals; we describe how a device can be moved along a track by operating molecular switches in the correct sequence; we finish with an account of the current state of development of autonomous molecular motors that are inspired by the natural protein motors myosin and kinesin. Closely related work on DNA sensors and DNA-templated chemistry is described briefly in Boxes 2 (Sensors that can process information
and 3 (Controlling chemical synthesishttp://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v2/n5/box/nnano.2007.104_BX3.html ).
1 comment:
This is too cool! Thanks for inviting me !!
Post a Comment