Signal replication in a DNA nanostructure.

Logic circuits based on DNA strand displacement reaction are the basic building blocks of future nanorobotic systems. The circuits tethered to DNA origami platforms present several advantages over solution-phase versions where couplings are always diffusion-limited. Here we consider a possible implementation of one of the basic operations needed in the design of these circuits, namely, signal replication.

Formation of supramolecular systems via directed Nucleoside-Lipid recognition.

We report the synthesis of a new series of Ketal Nucleoside Lipids (KNLs) featuring saturated hydrophobic double chains and either adenosine or uridine as nucleosides (KNL(A) and KNL(U), respectively). Physicochemical studies (differential scanning calorimetry, small angle X ray scattering, transmission electronic microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Langmuir isotherm, infrared spectroscopy) show that the KNLs form hydrogels below the main phase transition temperature (Tm), whereas fluid lamellar phases are obtained above T(m). Mixing complementary KNLs affords a new stable Combined Supramolecular Systems (CSSs) due to complementary A-U recognition.

Chemical details on nucleolipid supramolecular architecture: molecular modeling and physicochemical studies.

Nucleolipids are currently under investigation as vectors for oligonucleotides (ON) delivery thanks to their supramolecular organization properties and their ability to develop specific interactions (i.e., stacking and potential Watson and Crick hydrogen bonds) for lipoplexes formation.