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DNA as a Genetic Template

DNA as a Genetic Template

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart,...

Homologous Recombination

Homologous Recombination

The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...

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Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

Published on: November 1, 2012

Post-Assembly Stabilization of Rationally Designed DNA Crystals.

Jiemin Zhao¹, Arun Richard Chandrasekaran², Qian Li¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 (USA).

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)

|July 3, 2015

Summary

Researchers stabilized fragile self-assembled DNA crystals by introducing a molecule that enhances inter-unit cohesion. This innovation significantly improves DNA crystal stability, broadening their potential applications.

Keywords:

DNA structures crystal engineering nanostructures self-assembly

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Last Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes

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Published on: November 1, 2012

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Published on: August 15, 2018

Area of Science:

Biomolecular engineering
Materials science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Self-assembled DNA crystals are inherently fragile due to weak inter-unit cohesion, limiting their practical applications.
Existing DNA nanostructures often require high ionic strength conditions for stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a general strategy for enhancing the stability of self-assembled DNA crystals.
To overcome the limitations imposed by the fragility of DNA nanostructures.

Main Methods:

Introduction of a stabilizing molecule that binds to cohesive sites within the DNA crystal lattice.
Characterization of DNA crystal stability under varying ionic strength conditions.

Main Results:

The introduced molecule significantly improved the stability of self-assembled DNA crystals.
Stabilized crystals maintained integrity in solutions with ionic strengths as low as 0.02 M (NH4)2SO4, a substantial improvement from the original requirement of ≥1.2 M (NH4)2SO4.

Conclusions:

The developed strategy offers a general approach for stabilizing self-assembled DNA nanostructures.
Enhanced DNA crystal stability opens possibilities for applications such as structural scaffolds and molecular sieves.