Directed Formation of DNA Nanoarrays through Orthogonal Self-Assembly.docVIP

Molecules 2011 16, 4912-4922; doi:10.3390/moleculeOPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 /journal/molecules Communication Directed Formation of DNA Nanoarrays through Orthogonal Self-Assembly Jonathan R. Burns 1, Jurgita Zekonyte 2, Giuliano Siligardi 3, Rohanah Hussain 3 and Eugen Stulz 1,* 1 School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK 2 National Centre for Advanced Tribology, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK 3 Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: est@soton.ac.uk; Tel +44-2380-599369. Received: 4 May 2011; in revised form: 31 May 2011 / Accepted: 10 June 2011 / Published: 15 June 2011 Abstract: We describe the synthesis of terpyridine modified DNA strands which selectively form DNA nanotubes through orthogonal hydrogen bonding and metal complexation interactions. The short DNA strands are designed to self-assemble into long duplexes through a sticky-end approach. Addition of weakly binding metals such as Zn(II) and Ni(II) induces the formation of tubular arrays consisting of DNA bundles which are 50-200 nm wide and 2-50 nm high. TEM shows additional long distance ordering of the terpy-DNA complexes into fibers. Keywords: terpy-DNA; AFM; TEM; DNA nanotubes 1. Introduction Since the seminal work of Seeman [1-3], Turberfield [4-7], LaBean [8,9], Rothemund [10,11], Yan [12,13], Mirkin [14,15] and others [16-22] in the field of DNA nanotechnology, the use of DNA to form novel self-assembled nanostructures has gained much attention with a view to creating functional entities for diagnostics, nanomachines or for use as biological templates. Self-assembled  Molecules 2011, 16 4913 nano-structures, e.g., based on proteins and DNA, are widespread in Nature,