Cryo-EM structure of a 3D DNA-origami object

Xiao Chen Bai, Thomas G. Martin, Sjors H W Scheres, Hendrik Dietz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

201 Scopus citations

Abstract

A key goal for nanotechnology is to design synthetic objects that may ultimately achieve functionalities known today only from natural macromolecular complexes. Molecular self-assembly with DNA has shown potential for creating user-defined 3D scaffolds, but the level of attainable positional accuracy has been unclear. Here we report the cryo-EM structure and a full pseudoatomic model of a discrete DNA object that is almost twice the size of a prokaryotic ribosome. The structure provides a variety of stable, previously undescribed DNA topologies for future use in nanotechnology and experimental evidence that discrete 3D DNA scaffolds allow the positioning of user-defined structural motifs with an accuracy that is similar to that observed in natural macromolecules. Thereby, our results indicate an attractive route to fabricate nanoscale devices that achieve complex functionalities by DNA-templated design steered by structural feedback.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)20012-20017
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume109
Issue number49
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 4 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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