Self-assembled cell-scale containers made from DNA origami membranes

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Synthetic Biology

Background:

• Biological systems utilize compartmentalization for efficient chemical processes, employing protein cages and lipid bilayers for structure.
• Current bottom-up synthetic biology primarily uses membrane-based methods, while DNA and protein nanotechnology focus on rigid assemblies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel DNA origami-based approach for creating self-assembling monolayer membranes.
• To explore the programmability and structural versatility of these DNA origami membranes.

Main Methods:

• Design and self-assembly of radially symmetric DNA origami subunits.
• Programming DNA origami subunits to form vesicles and hollow tubes of varying sizes.

Main Results:

• Successful self-assembly of DNA origami monolayer membranes.
• Demonstrated programmability to form vesicles and hollow tubes with diameters from 100 nm to over 1 μm.
• Established a new method for creating dynamic, membrane-based structures using DNA nanotechnology.

Conclusions:

• DNA origami monolayer membranes offer a new paradigm for biological compartmentalization.
• These structures hold significant potential for applications in bottom-up synthetic biology and cell-scale soft robotics.