DNA Origami-Encoded Integration of Heterostructures.

Integrating dissimilar materials at the nanoscale is crucial for modern electronics and optoelectronics. The structural DNA nanotechnology provides a universal platform for precision assembly of materials; nevertheless, heterogeneous integration of dissimilar materials with DNA nanostructures has yet to be explored. We report a DNA origami-encoded strategy for integrating silica-metal heterostructures.

Asymmetric reconstruction of mammalian reovirus reveals interactions among RNA, transcriptional factor µ2 and capsid proteins.

Mammalian reovirus (MRV) is the prototypical member of genus Orthoreovirus of family Reoviridae. However, lacking high-resolution structures of its RNA polymerase cofactor μ2 and infectious particle, limits understanding of molecular interactions among proteins and RNA, and their contributions to virion assembly and RNA transcription. Here, we report the 3.

DNA origami cryptography for secure communication.

Biomolecular cryptography exploiting specific biomolecular interactions for data encryption represents a unique approach for information security. However, constructing protocols based on biomolecular reactions to guarantee confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA) of information remains a challenge. Here we develop DNA origami cryptography (DOC) that exploits folding of a M13 viral scaffold into nanometer-scale self-assembled braille-like patterns for secure communication, which can create a key with a size of over 700 bits.

Solidifying framework nucleic acids with silica.

Soft matter can serve as a template to guide the growth of inorganic components with well-controlled structural features. However, the limited design space of conventional organic and biomolecular templates restricts the complexity and accuracy of templated growth. In past decades, the blossoming of structural DNA nanotechnology has provided us with a large reservoir of delicate-framework nucleic acids with design precision down to a single base.

In-Situ Configuration Studies on Segmented DNA Origami Nanotubes.

One-dimensional nanotubes are of considerable interest in materials and biochemical sciences. A particular desire is to create DNA nanotubes with user-defined structural features and biological relevance, which will facilitate the application of these nanotubes in the controlled release of drugs, templating of other materials into linear arrays and the construction of artificial membrane channels. However, little is known about the structures of assembled DNA nanotubes in solution.

Complex silica composite nanomaterials templated with DNA origami.

Genetically encoded protein scaffolds often serve as templates for the mineralization of biocomposite materials with complex yet highly controlled structural features that span from nanometres to the macroscopic scale. Methods developed to mimic these fabrication capabilities can produce synthetic materials with well defined micro- and macro-sized features, but extending control to the nanoscale remains challenging. DNA nanotechnology can deliver a wide range of customized nanoscale two- and three-dimensional assemblies with controlled sizes and shapes.