Modular reconfiguration of DNA origami assemblies using tile displacement

Area of Science:

• Biomolecular Engineering
• Synthetic Biology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Natural evolution's adaptability is limited by slow genetic timescales.
• Electromechanical robots demonstrate modularity and self-reconfiguration for diverse functions.
• DNA origami offers a platform for engineering adaptable molecular machines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish design principles for simultaneous reconfiguration in DNA tile assemblies.
• To expand the design space for tile displacement reactions.
• To demonstrate modular reconfiguration in complex 3D and 2D DNA structures.

Main Methods:

• Developed complex invaders with distinct shapes for tile displacement.
• Introduced toehold and branch migration domain configurations.
• Constructed multitile invaders and investigated 3D barrel structure growth and reconfiguration.

Main Results:

• Expanded the design space of tile displacement reactions by two orders of magnitude.
• Demonstrated construction of variable-sized multitile invaders.
• Showcased reconfiguration of 3D structures into 2D and complex shape transformations with minimal cross-talk.

Conclusions:

• Tile displacement is a viable mechanism for modular reconfiguration in DNA origami.
• This approach offers robustness to temperature and tile concentration.
• Paves the way for dynamic self-reprogramming in synthetic cells.