Economical and Versatile Subunit Design Principles for Self-Assembled DNA Origami Structures.

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biomolecular Engineering
• Structural Biology

Background:

• DNA origami enables precise nanoscale construction.
• Current designs often lack flexibility, limiting structural diversity and error tolerance.
• Controlling subunit interactions is key for complex self-assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a modular DNA origami subunit design for versatile self-assembled structures.
• To characterize the mechanical properties of flexible joints in DNA origami.
• To demonstrate the design's ability to create structures with varying Gaussian curvature.

Main Methods:

• Modular subunit design with core, bond, and angle modules.
• Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for mechanical property characterization.
• Coarse-grained molecular modeling for conformational analysis.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated versatility in assembling sheets, spherical shells, and tubes with different Gaussian curvatures.
• Characterized flexible joints using single-stranded angle modules.
• Showcased error tolerance and maintained target fidelity with judicious flexibility.

Conclusions:

• Modular DNA origami design allows for versatile and precise self-assembly.
• Incorporating flexibility enhances error tolerance in fabrication.
• Balancing flexibility with distinct bonds ensures high fidelity in complex structures.