Crystal structure of a continuous three-dimensional DNA lattice.
DNA has proved to be a versatile material for the rational design and assembly of nanometer scale objects. Here we report the crystal structure of a continuous three-dimensional DNA lattice formed by the self-assembly of a DNA 13-mer. The structure consists of stacked layers of parallel helices with adjacent layers linked through parallel-stranded base pairing. The hexagonal lattice geometry contains solvent channels that appear large enough to allow 3'-linked guest molecules into the crystal. We have successfully used these parallel base pairs to design and produce crystals with greatly enlarged solvent channels. This lattice may have applications as a molecular scaffold for structure determination of guest molecules, as a molecular sieve, or in the assembly of molecular electronics. Predictable non-Watson-Crick base pairs, like those described here, may present a new tool in structural DNA nanotechnology.
Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station A4800, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. paul@intron.icmb.utexas.edu
Paul J
PJ
Paukstelis
Jacek
J
Nowakowski
Jens J
JJ
Birktoft
Nadrian C
NC
Seeman
D020029:Base Pairing; D001483:Base Sequence; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012997:Solvents
D012997:Solvents; D004247:DNA