Switchable reconfiguration of an interlocked DNA olympiadane nanostructure

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Synthetic Biology
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• Interlocked DNA rings, known as catenanes, are promising reconfigurable nanostructures.
• Synthesizing complex catenanes with multiple rings is challenging due to low yields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a new method for synthesizing DNA catenanes with a controlled number of rings.
• To demonstrate the controlled reconfiguration of these DNA catenanes into distinct states.
• To utilize DNA catenanes as scaffolds for nanoparticle manipulation.

Main Methods:

• Developed a novel synthetic strategy for creating multi-ring DNA catenanes.
• Employed nucleic acids as fuels and antifuels to control catenane reconfiguration.
• Utilized a five-ring DNA catenane as a mechanical scaffold for gold nanoparticle (Au NP) reconfiguration.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized a five-ring DNA catenane in satisfactory yields.
• Demonstrated cyclic reconfiguration of the five-ring DNA catenane across four distinct configurations using nucleic acid fuels.
• One configuration, olympiadane, mimics the Olympic Games symbol.
• Implemented the DNA catenane as a scaffold to reconfigure Au NPs.

Conclusions:

• The new method overcomes previous limitations in synthesizing complex DNA catenanes.
• DNA catenanes offer advantages over supramolecular catenanes, including defined state generation and nano-object tethering.
• These reconfigurable DNA nanostructures serve as versatile mechanical scaffolds for nanoscale applications.