Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

08:59
DNA Origami-Mediated Substrate Nanopatterning of Inorganic Structures for Sensing Applications
Published on: September 27, 2019
NTA directed protein nanopatterning on DNA Origami nanoconstructs
Wanqiu Shen1, Hong Zhong, David Neff
1Department of Chemistry, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 25755, USA.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|April 30, 2009
Summary
Researchers used DNA nanostructures to precisely position proteins for advanced biosensors. They utilized nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and nickel ions to attach histidine-tagged proteins, like enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), to DNA Origami scaffolds, visualizing the nanoscale patterns with atomic force microscopy (AFM).
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Precise nanoscale patterning of molecules is essential for developing advanced biosensing and optoelectronic devices.
- DNA nanoconstructs, both one- and two-dimensional, serve as effective scaffolds for creating nanoscale patterns.
- Existing methods for protein localization on nanostructures can be further refined for enhanced precision and versatility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel method for precisely localizing histidine-tagged proteins onto DNA nanostructures.
- To investigate the use of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) chelation for targeted protein attachment.
- To visualize and confirm the successful nanopatterning of proteins using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
Main Methods:
- Designed and fabricated DNA Origami nanoconstructs as scaffolds.
- Functionalized DNA nanoconstructs with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA).
- Utilized Ni(2+) ions to chelate and localize histidine (His)-tagged enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) onto the NTA-functionalized DNA structures.
- Visualized the resulting protein nanopatterns using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated the targeted localization of histidine-tagged enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) onto specific locations on DNA Origami nanoconstructs.
- Confirmed the formation of precise nanopatterns of EGFP via NTA-Ni(2+) chelation.
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM) provided high-resolution visualization of the nanoscale protein arrangements.
Conclusions:
- The NTA-Ni(2+) chelation system provides an effective strategy for the precise nanoscale patterning of histidine-tagged proteins on DNA-based scaffolds.
- This technique offers a versatile platform for constructing complex molecular architectures for applications in biosensing and nanotechnology.
- The ability to visualize these patterns with AFM validates the precision and potential of this nanopatterning approach.

