Nanotechnology Now

• About Us
  
  • Advertising
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Comments
  • Friends
  • Contact
• Nanotechnology
• News
  
  • Current News
  • Press Releases
  • Submit Press
  • Press kit
  • Interviews
• Columns
• Products
  
  • Our Products
  • Books
  • Featured Books
• Directories
  
  • Companies/Academic
  • Events
  • Glossary
  • Best Of
• Career Center
• Nano-Social Network
• Nano Consulting
• My Account

Home > News > DNA cages change size on demand

February 4th, 2008

DNA cages change size on demand

Abstract:
UK and German scientists have designed dynamic DNA cages which expand or contract on demand - and could be used to deliver drugs, or be the moving parts of nanomachines.

Researchers working with DNA have coaxed the strands into various impressive structures over the last two decades - including cubes, prisms, tetrahedra, and other exotic polyhedra. But these have usually been rigid and static: each edge consisting of a short double-stranded DNA segment.

But now, researchers based at the Universities of Oxford and Bielefield have built tetrahedra with one unusual edge that includes a single-stranded segment of DNA in its middle section[1]. This segment normally bunches up into a hairpin structure, but it straightens out - thus lengthening the entire edge - when it binds to a complementary single-stranded DNA segment.

By 'fuelling' the tetrahedra with the requisite complementary DNA segment, the researchers were able to expand the cage. Conversely, when they added 'anti-fuel' strands, they stuck to 'fuelling' DNA, pulling it away from the edge of the cage and making it contract again. The team also made a tetrahedron with two variable-length edges, which could independently expand or contract - dramatically changing the shape of the cage.

Source:
rsc.org

Bookmark:

Related News Press

News and information

Imec and GLOBALFOUNDRIES collaborate to advance high-density memory technology: STT-MRAM offers enhanced performance and scalability for embedded and standalone applications May 21st, 2013

International survey supports need for built-in water protection on smartphones and tablets May 21st, 2013

Rice unveils method for tailoring optical processors: Arranging nanoparticles in geometric patterns allows for control of light with light May 21st, 2013

Iran to Hold 1st Conference on Applications of Nanotechnology in Energy Industry May 21st, 2013

Discoveries

Rice unveils method for tailoring optical processors: Arranging nanoparticles in geometric patterns allows for control of light with light May 21st, 2013

Nanoparticle Delivers Large Protein Complex to Cancer Cell Nucleus May 20th, 2013

Protein 'Passport' Helps Nanoparticles Get Past Immune System May 20th, 2013

Researchers Perform Fastest Measurements Ever Made of Ion Channel Proteins May 20th, 2013

Announcements

Imec and GLOBALFOUNDRIES collaborate to advance high-density memory technology: STT-MRAM offers enhanced performance and scalability for embedded and standalone applications May 21st, 2013

International survey supports need for built-in water protection on smartphones and tablets May 21st, 2013

Rice unveils method for tailoring optical processors: Arranging nanoparticles in geometric patterns allows for control of light with light May 21st, 2013

Iran to Hold 1st Conference on Applications of Nanotechnology in Energy Industry May 21st, 2013

Nanobiotechnology

Researchers Perform Fastest Measurements Ever Made of Ion Channel Proteins May 20th, 2013

Artificial Forest for Solar Water-Splitting: Berkeley Lab Researchers Report First Fully Integrated Artificial Photosynthesis Nanosystem May 17th, 2013

Glowing Plant Kickstarter Project Retains Digital Marketing Agency, Command Partners: Glowing Plant brings on top Charlotte-based digital marketing firm to assist in crowdfunding campaign May 16th, 2013

DNA-Guided Assembly Yields Novel Ribbon-Like Nanostructures: Approach could be useful in fabricating new kinds of materials with engineered properties May 16th, 2013