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Reconfigurable T-junction DNA origami
Katherine G. Young, Behnam Najafi, Ard A. Louis, Jonathan P. K. Doye, Andrew J. Turberfield and Jonathan Bath
Abstract
DNA self-assembly allows construction of nanometre-scale
structures and devices. Structures with thousands of unique
components are routinely assembled in good yield. Experimental
progress has been rapid, based largely on empirical design rules.
Here we demonstrate a new DNA origami technique designed as a
model system with which to explore the mechanism of assembly. The
origami fold is controlled through single-stranded loops embedded in
a double-stranded DNA template and is programmed by a set of
double-stranded linkers that specify pairwise interactions between
loop sequences. Assembly is via T-junctions formed by hybridization
of single-stranded overhangs on the linkers with the loops. The
sequence of loops on the template and the set of interaction rules
embodied in the linkers can be reconfigured with ease. We show that
a set of just two interaction rules can be used to assemble simple T-junction
origami motifs and that assembly can be performed at room
temperature.
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