Mechanical properties of DNA origami nanoassemblies are determined by Holliday junction mechanophores.

ABSTRACT: DNA nanoassemblies have demonstrated wide applications in various fields including nanomaterials, drug delivery and biosensing. In DNA origami, single-stranded DNA template is shaped into desired nanostructure by DNA staples that form Holliday junctions with the template. Limited by current methodologies, however, mechanical properties of DNA origami structures have not been adequately characterized, which hinders further applications of these materials. Using laser tweezers, here, we have described two mechanical properties of DNA nanoassemblies represented by DNA nanotubes, DNA nanopyramids and DNA nanotiles. First, mechanical stability of DNA origami structures is determined by the effective density of Holliday junctions along a particular stress direction. Second, mechanical isomerizat

SUBMITTER: Shrestha P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5001620 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature