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Updated: May 12, 2026
08:56
In vitro Assembly of Semi-artificial Molecular Machine and its Use for Detection of DNA Damage
Published on: January 11, 2012
A DNA-fuelled molecular machine made of DNA
B Yurke1, A J Turberfield, A P Mills
1Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974, USA. yurke@lucent.com
Nature
|August 19, 2000
Summary
Researchers created a novel DNA machine, utilizing DNA as both structure and fuel. This DNA nanomechanical device, resembling tweezers, operates through the addition of fuel strands, enabling controlled opening and closing actions.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- DNA's molecular recognition properties enable nanoscale construction.
- DNA is utilized for organizing particles, templating nanocrystal growth, and forming static structures.
- Previous work demonstrated DNA-based nanomechanical switches and enzyme activity modulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a DNA machine using DNA as both structural material and fuel.
- To develop a switchable nanomechanical device based on DNA.
- To demonstrate a cycle of operation for the DNA machine.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a three-strand DNA nanomechanical tweezer device.
- Utilizing auxiliary 'fuel' DNA strands to control tweezer conformation.
- Employing DNA hybridization and melting principles for machine operation.
Main Results:
- Successfully constructed a DNA machine in the form of tweezers.
- Demonstrated reversible opening and closing of the tweezers using fuel DNA.
- Each operational cycle generated a duplex DNA waste product.
Conclusions:
- DNA can serve as both a structural component and an energy source for nanomachines.
- The developed DNA tweezer represents a functional nanomechanical device with potential applications in molecular robotics.
- This work expands the utility of DNA in constructing active nanodevices.
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