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Modular construction of DNA nanotubes of tunable geometry and single- or double-stranded character

Abstract

DNA nanotubes can template the growth of nanowires1, orient transmembrane proteins for nuclear magnetic resonance determination2, and can potentially act as stiff interconnects, tracks for molecular motors and nanoscale drug carriers3. Current methods for the construction of DNA nanotubes result in symmetrical and cylindrical assemblies that are entirely double-stranded2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11. Here, we report a modular approach to DNA nanotube synthesis that provides access to geometrically well-defined triangular and square-shaped DNA nanotubes. We also construct the first nanotube assemblies that can exist in double- and single-stranded forms with significantly different stiffness. This approach allows for parameters such as geometry, stiffness, and single- or double-stranded character to be fine-tuned, and could enable the creation of designer nanotubes for a range of applications, including the growth of nanowires of controlled shape, the loading and release of cargo, and the real-time modulation of stiffness and persistence length within DNA interconnects.

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Figure 1
Figure 2: Construction of DNA nanotubes.
Figure 3: AFM characterization of triangular DNA nanotubes.
Figure 4: AFM characterization of square DNA nanotubes that can be double- or single-stranded.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Centre for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research for financial support, A.L. Palmer for help in manuscript preparation, and J. Hedberg for help in preparing the graphical illustrations. F.A.A is a McGill University Principal's Prize Fellow. P.K.L. and P.K. thank CIHR for a Chemical Biology Scholarship. H.F.S is a Cottrell Scholar of the Research Corporation.

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All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript. H.F.S. conceived and designed the project, analysed the data and co-wrote the paper. F.A.A conceived and designed the project, performed the experiments, analysed the data and co-wrote the paper. P.K.L performed the experiments and analysed the data. P.K. and G.C. performed the confocal fluorescence microscopy measurements. C.K.M. assisted in project design.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hanadi F. Sleiman.

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Aldaye, F., Lo, P., Karam, P. et al. Modular construction of DNA nanotubes of tunable geometry and single- or double-stranded character. Nature Nanotech 4, 349–352 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.72

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