AVS 52nd International Symposium
    DNA Topical Conference Monday Sessions
       Session DN+BI-MoM

Invited Paper DN+BI-MoM3
DNA: Not Merely the Secret of Life

Monday, October 31, 2005, 9:00 am, Room 311

Session: DNA Structures and Surfaces
Presenter: N.C. Seeman, New York University
Correspondent: Click to Email

Structural DNA nanotechnology uses the concept of reciprocal exchange between DNA double helices to produce branched DNA motifs, like Holliday junctions, or related structures, such as double crossover (DX), triple crossover (TX), paranemic crossover (PX) and DNA parallelogram motifs. We have worked since the early 1980's to combine DNA motifs, using sticky-ended cohesion, to produce specific structures. From branched junctions, we have constructed DNA stick-polyhedra, whose edges are double helices, and whose vertices are the branch points of DNA branched junctions. These include a cube, a truncated octahedron, and an irregular graph. We have also made topological targets, such as deliberately designed knots and Borromean rings. Recently, we have begun to template the topology of industrial polymers, such as nylon, with DNA-like scaffolds. Nanorobotics are key to the success of nanotechnology. We have used two DX molecules to construct a DNA nanomechanical device by linking them with a segment that can be switched between left-handed Z-DNA with right-handed B-DNA. PX DNA has been used to produce a robust sequence-dependent device that changes states by varied hybridization topology. The sequence-dependent nature of this device means that a variety of them attached to a motif can all be addressed individually. Recently, we have used this device to make a translational machine. A central goal of DNA nanotechnology is the self-assembly of periodic matter. We have constructed micron-sized 2-dimensional DNA arrays from DX, TX and two kinds of parallelogram motifs. We can produce specific designed patterns visible in the AFM from DX and TX molecules. We can change the patterns by changing the components, and by modification after assembly. In addition, we have generated 2D arrays from DNA parallelograms. These arrays contain cavities whose sizes can be tuned by design. Recently, we have used robust triangular motifs to produce honeycomb-shaped arrays.