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Peptide-Driven Shape Control of Low-Dimensional DNA Nanostructures.

Chan-Jin KimJi-Eun ParkXiaole HuShine K AlbertSo-Jung Park
Published in: ACS nano (2020)
We report the rational design and fabrication of unusual low-dimensional DNA nanostructures through programmable and sequence-specific peptide interactions. Dual-bioactive block copolymers composed of DNA and amino acid-based polymers (DNA-b-poly(amino acid)) were synthesized by coupling oligonucleotides to phenylalanine (Phe)-based polymers. Unlike prototypical DNA block copolymers, which typically form simple spherical micelles, DNA-b-poly(amino acid) assemble into various low-dimensional structures such as nanofibers, ribbons, and sheets through controllable amino acid interactions. Moreover, DNA-b-poly(amino acid) assemblies can undergo protease-induced fiber-to-sheet shape transformations, where the morphology change is dictated by the type of enzymes and amino acid sequences. The peptide-based self-assembly reported here provides a programmable approach to fabricate dynamic DNA assemblies with diverse and unusual low-dimensional structures.
Keyphrases
  • amino acid
  • circulating tumor
  • cell free
  • single molecule
  • nucleic acid
  • circulating tumor cells
  • high resolution
  • cancer therapy