Structural highlights
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The tensegrity triangle motif utilizes Watson-Crick sticky end cohesion to self-assemble into a rhombohedral crystal lattice using complementary 5'-GA and 5'-TC sticky ends. Here, we report that using noncanonical 5'-AG and 5'-TC sticky ends in otherwise isomorphic tensegrity triangles results in crystal self-assembly in the P6(3) hexagonal space group as revealed by X-ray crystallography. In this structure, the DNA double helices bend at the crossover positions, a feature that was not observed in the original design. Instead of propagating linearly, the tilt between base pairs of each right-handed helix results in a left-handed superstructure along the screw axis, forming a microtubule-like structure composed of three double helices with an unbroken channel at the center. This hexagonal lattice has a cavity diameter of 11 nm and a unit cell volume of 886â¯000 A(3)-far larger than the rhombohedral counterpart (5 nm, 330â¯000 A(3)).
3D Hexagonal Arrangement of DNA Tensegrity Triangles.,Lu B, Vecchioni S, Ohayon YP, Sha R, Woloszyn K, Yang B, Mao C, Seeman NC ACS Nano. 2021 Oct 26;15(10):16788-16793. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c06963. Epub 2021 , Oct 5. PMID:34609128[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Lu B, Vecchioni S, Ohayon YP, Sha R, Woloszyn K, Yang B, Mao C, Seeman NC. 3D Hexagonal Arrangement of DNA Tensegrity Triangles. ACS Nano. 2021 Oct 26;15(10):16788-16793. PMID:34609128 doi:10.1021/acsnano.1c06963