Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025
Gene-therapy Inspired Polycation Coating for Protection of DNA Origami Nanostructures
Published on: January 19, 2019
Construction of DNA-displaying nanoparticles by enzymatic conjugation of DNA and elastin-like polypeptides using a
Wei Guo1, Yasumasa Mashimo1, Eiry Kobatake1
1Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8502, Japan.
Abstract:
DNA-displaying nanoparticles comprised of conjugates of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) were developed. ssDNA was enzymatically conjugated to ELPs via a catalytic domain of Porcine Circovirus type 2 replication initiation protein (pRep) fused to ELPs. Nanoparticles were formed upon heating to temperatures above the phase transition temperature due to the hydrophobicity of ELPs and the hydrophilicity of conjugated ssDNA. We demonstrated the applicability of the resultant nanoparticles as drug carriers with tumor-targeting properties by conjugating a DNA aptamer, which is known to bind to Mucin 1 (MUC1), to ELPs. DNA aptamer-displaying nanoparticles encapsulating the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel were able to bind to cells overexpressing MUC1 and induce cell death.
