AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Nucleic Acids at Surfaces Topical Conference Monday Sessions
       Session DN-MoM

Paper DN-MoM9
DNA Nanostructure Adsorption and Growth on Inorganic Surfaces

Monday, November 13, 2006, 10:40 am, Room 2014

Session: Nucleic Acids at Surfaces I
Presenter: G. Zuccheri, University of Bologna, INSTM and INFM-S3 Center, Italy
Authors: G. Zuccheri, University of Bologna, INSTM and INFM-S3 Center, Italy
M. Brucale, University of Bologna, Italy
B. Samorì, University of Bologna, and INFM-S3 Center, Italy
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The preparation of DNA-based nanostructures is usually accomplished in solution, by the controlled-temperature assembly of a number of oligonucleotides into complex, often multi-modular structures.@footnote 1@ Several techniques are then used to lay the nanostructures on solid surfaces, either to perform further studies (such as with the AFM) or to integrate them on microfabricated devices. The adsorption of nucleic acids on inorganic surfaces can take place with orientational preference as a function of the DNA base sequence, as we have evidenced on mica.@footnote 2@ A fine control of surface adsorption properties could also prove beneficial for the control and tailoring of DNA-based nanostructure growth, as this can be accomplished directly on surfaces. We have evidence that growing DNA nanostructures based on the stable Holliday junction could take place through only some of the possible pathways when performed on the surface, if compared to solution growth. We collected experimental data on a system based on the DNA parallelogram motif introduced by Prof. Seeman where the assembly could be made more efficient to the point that kinetically-trapped unwanted structures could be avoided by forcing the growth to take place while all the components are adsorbed on a surface. As a fringe benefit, the reduction of dimensionality inherent in the surface adsorption enables the assembly to take place at strongly reduced oligonucleotide concentrations if compared to solution assembly. @FootnoteText@@footnote 1@a) Brucale, M.et al. (2006). Trends In Biotechnology 24: 235-243; b) Samorì, B. and Zuccheri, G. (2005). Angew Chem Int Ed 44:1166-1181. @footnote 2@Sampaolese, B. et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99(21): 13566-70.