Asymmetric Secondary and Tertiary Streptavidin/DNA Complexes Selectively Formed in a Nanometer-Scale DNA Well

Supramolecular Protein Assemblies Based on DNA Templates

DNA plays an important role in the process of protein assembly. DNA viruses such as the M13 virus are typical examples in which single DNA genomes behave as templates to induce the assembly of multiple major coat protein (PVIII) monomers. Thus, the design of protein assemblies based on DNA templates attracts much interest in the construction of supramolecular structures and materials. With the development of DNA nanotechnology, precise 1D and 3D protein nanostructures have been designed and constructed by using DNA templates through DNA-protein interactions, protein-ligand interactions, and protein-adapter interactions. These DNA-templated protein assemblies show great potential in catalysis, medicine, light-responsive systems, drug delivery, and signal transduction. Herein, we review the progress on DNA-based protein nanostructures that possess sophisticated nanometer-sized structures with programmable shapes and stimuli-responsive parameters, and we present their great potential in the design of biomaterials and biodevices in the future.

Allosteric control of nanomechanical DNA origami pinching devices for enhanced target binding

Significant enhancement of single-molecular binding of specific targets was achieved by allosterically controlling nanomechanical DNA origami pinching devices.

Orthogonal enzyme arrays on a DNA origami scaffold bearing size-tunable wells

A new waffle-like DNA origami assembly (DNA waffle) with nine nanometer-scale wells in a 3 × 3 matrix pattern has been successfully constructed and used as a scaffold for selective nano-patterning of individual protein molecules. The folding pattern of the scaffold was specially designed so that the dimensions of each well could be independently tuned according to the dimensions of the guest nanoparticles. We demonstrated that two distinct proteins, streptavidin (SA) tetramer (d = 5 nm) and anti-fluorescein antibody (IgG) (inter-paratope distance ∼ 14.0 nm), could be selectively captured in size-variable wells of dimensions 6.8 × 12 × 2.0 nm for SA and 6.8 × 12 × 2.0 nm or 10.2 × 12 × 2.0 nm for IgG, respectively, through the attachment of two biotins or two fluoresceins at the two edges of each well. This allowed the formation of a heterogeneous protein nanoarray of individual molecules. The position of SA or IgG capture can be fully controlled by placement of biotins or fluoresceins in the nanoarray well. Moreover, a hetero-nanoarray consisting of two kinds of enzyme: horseradish peroxidase-labeled streptavidin (HRP-SA) and alkaline phosphatase-labeled anti-FITC antibody (AP-IgG) was successfully constructed through selective attachment of biotin or fluorescein in any desired wells. Successful enzyme-heteroarray formation was confirmed by enzymatic activity analyses after purification of mixtures of enzymes and DNA waffles.

Novel DNA materials and their applications

The last two decades have witnessed the exponential development of DNA as a generic material instead of just a genetic material. The biological function, nanoscale geometry, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and molecular recognition capacity of DNA make it a promising candidate for the construction of novel functional nanomaterials. As a result, DNA has been recognized as one of the most appealing and versatile nanomaterial building blocks. Scientists have used DNA in this way to construct various amazing nanostructures, such as ordered lattices, origami, supramolecular assemblies, and even three-dimensional objects. In addition, DNA has been utilized as a guide and template to direct the assembly of other nanomaterials including nanowires, free-standing membranes, and crystals. Furthermore, DNA can also be used as structural components to construct bulk materials such as DNA hydrogels, demonstrating its ability to behave as a unique polymer. Overall, these novel DNA materials have found applications in various areas in the biomedical field in general, and nanomedicine in particular. In this review, we summarize the development of DNA assemblies, describe the innovative progress of multifunctional and bulk DNA materials, and highlight some real-world nanomedical applications of these DNA materials. We also show our insights throughout this article for the future direction of DNA materials.