Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2025
09:26
DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation
Published on: December 29, 2021
4.1K
Sequence-Defined DNA Polymers: New Tools for DNA Nanotechnology and Nucleic Acid Therapy
Muhammad Ghufran Rafique1, Quentin Laurent1,2, Michael D Dore1,3
1Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada.
Accounts of Chemical Research
|January 8, 2025
Summary
Sequence-defined DNA polymers (SDPs) enable the creation of complex, hierarchical nanostructures by combining DNA programmability with polymer diversity. These novel DNA nanomaterials show promise in therapeutic applications and advanced nanoreactors.
Area of Science:
- DNA nanotechnology
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Materials science
Background:
- DNA nanotechnology utilizes self-assembly for complex soft material construction.
- Orthogonal interactions (metal coordination, hydrophobic effects) expand DNA assembly capabilities.
- DNA-minimal approaches use fewer sequences for intricate structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate orthogonal interactions into DNA supramolecular assemblies.
- To synthesize and characterize sequence-defined DNA polymers (SDPs).
- To explore hierarchical organization and applications of novel DNA nanostructures.
Main Methods:
- Automated solid-phase synthesis of sequence-defined DNA polymers (SDPs).
- Structural and molecular modeling for assembly insights.
- Fabrication of isotropic and anisotropic nanostructures (SNAs, nanofibers, nanosheets).
- Hybridization with DNA wireframe assemblies for stimuli-responsive systems.
Main Results:
- SDPs self-assemble into diverse morphologies, including spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), nanofibers, and nanosheets.
- Hierarchical, anisotropic assemblies with sequence-dependent polymorphism and chiroptical behavior were created.
- Hybrid nanostructures exhibited emergent functional modes and served as nanoreactors.
- SDP-based nanostructures demonstrated therapeutic potential with enhanced gene silencing and biodistribution.
Conclusions:
- Sequence-defined DNA polymers offer a versatile building block combining DNA programmability with polymer characteristics.
- Novel self-assembly rules and DNA-minimal nanostructures were discovered.
- Demonstrated utility in nanoreactors, information transfer, and therapeutic applications.
- Opens new avenues in DNA nanomaterials and nucleic acid therapeutics.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Nucleic Acid Structure
5.9K
The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA...
DNA Structure
DNA...
5.9K
01:57Sanger Sequencing
752.7K
DNA sequencing is a fundamental technique that is routinely used in the biological sciences. This method can be applied to a range of questions at different scales - from the sequencing of a cloned DNA fragment or the study of a mutation in a gene up to whole-genome sequencing. However, despite the widespread use of sequencing today, it was not until 1977 that Fredrick Sanger and his collaborators developed the chain-termination method to decode DNA sequences. It relies on the separation of a...
752.7K
03:00Next-generation Sequencing
87.3K
The first human genome sequencing project cost $2.7 billion and was declared complete in 2003, after 15 years of international cooperation and collaboration between several research teams and funding agencies. Today, with the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies, the cost and time of sequencing a human genome have dropped over 100 fold.
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features....
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features....
87.3K
02:43Nucleic acids
159.3K
Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes,...
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes,...
159.3K
02:43Nucleic Acids
43.6K
Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. They carry the cell's genetic blueprint and carry instructions for its functioning.
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes,...
DNA and RNA
The two main types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the genetic material in all living organisms, ranging from single-celled bacteria to multicellular mammals. It is in the nucleus of eukaryotes and in the organelles, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. In prokaryotes,...
43.6K
01:03Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins
13.9K
For successful DNA replication, the unwinding of double-stranded DNA must be accompanied by stabilization and protection of the separated single strands of the DNA. This crucial task is performed by single-strand DNA-binding (SSB) proteins. They bind to the DNA in a sequence-independent manner, which means that the nitrogenous bases of the DNA need not be present in a specific order for binding of SSB proteins to it. The binding of SSB proteins straightens single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and makes...
13.9K