Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
07:50
Plasmid-derived DNA Strand Displacement Gates for Implementing Chemical Reaction Networks
Published on: November 25, 2015
14.4K
The motive forces in DNA-enabled nanomachinery
1Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
Iscience
|March 29, 2024
Summary
This study reviews DNA nanomachines, artificial devices using DNA for mechanical tasks. It explores their design, energy sources, and potential for future applications in nanotechnology.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Humanity seeks machines to augment or replace human efforts for complex tasks.
- Molecular components can form nanomachines capable of predetermined mechanical movements.
- DNA nanomachines leverage Watson-Crick base pairing energies for controlled actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the motive forces driving DNA-based nanomachineries.
- To discuss the design principles and operational mechanisms of various DNA nanodevices.
- To highlight potential future research directions in artificial nanomachines.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on DNA nanomachines.
- Analysis of structural motif design and toehold strategies for strand displacement reactions.
- Inclusion of examples of hybrid nanomachines utilizing biological motors.
Main Results:
- Detailed discussion of DNA tweezers, DNA origami actuators, DNA walkers, and DNA machine-enabled bulk sensing.
- Explanation of how external stimuli and free energies drive DNA nanomachinery.
- Presentation of hybrid systems integrating biological components.
Conclusions:
- Future research should focus on diverse energy inputs for nanomachines.
- Exploring host cell-assisted self-replication of DNA nanostructures is a key area.
- Investigating nonequilibrium transportations within nanoscale systems is essential.
Related Concept Videos
00:55DNA Helicases
21.3K
DNA unwinding helicase enzymes are a type of motor protein. Motor proteins can translocate along filaments or polymers using energy generated from ATP hydrolysis. Helicases are involved in all the important cellular processes where DNA unwinding is required, such as DNA replication, repair, recombination, and transcription. They are present in all living organisms, but vary in their structure, function, and mechanism of action. For example, in prokaryotes, DnaB helicase binds and translocates...
21.3K
01:58Mechanical Protein Functions
4.9K
Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force.
4.9K
03:01The Replisome
33.5K
DNA replication is carried out by a large complex of proteins that act in a coordinated matter to achieve high-fidelity DNA replication. Together this complex is known as the DNA replication machinery or the replisome.
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with...
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with...
33.5K
01:39Anaphase A and B
4.1K
Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore microtubules.
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...
4.1K
02:54Nucleosome Remodeling
9.1K
Nucleosomes are the basic units of chromatin compaction. Each nucleosome consists of the DNA bound tightly around a histone core, which makes the DNA inaccessible to DNA binding proteins such as DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase. Hence, the fundamental problem is to ensure access to DNA when appropriate, despite the compact and protective chromatin structure.
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
9.1K
01:02The DNA Replication Fork
35.9K
An organism’s genome needs to be duplicated in an efficient and error-free manner for its growth and survival. The replication fork is a Y-shaped active region where two strands of DNA are separated and replicated continuously. The coupling of DNA unzipping and complementary strand synthesis is a characteristic feature of a replication fork. Organisms with small circular DNA, such as E. coli, often have a single origin of replication; therefore, they have only two replication...
35.9K