title: Self-assembly of metal-DNA triangles and DNA nanotubes with synthetic junctions.
abstract: The site-specific insertion of organic and inorganic molecules into DNA nanostructures can provide unique structural and functional capabilities. We have demonstrated the inclusion of two types of molecules. The first is a diphenylphenanthroline (dpp, 1) molecule that is site specifically inserted into DNA strands and which can be used as a template to create metal-coordinating pockets. These building blocks can then be used to assemble metal-DNA 2D and 3D structures, including metal-DNA triangles, described here. The second insertion is a triaryl molecule that provides geometric control in the preparation of 2D single-stranded DNA templates. These can be designed to further assemble into geometrically well-defined nanotubes. Here, we detail the steps involved in the construction of metal-DNA triangles and DNA nanotubes using these methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Pik Kwan
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Graham D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Hamblin
authors.forename: Faisal A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Aldaye
authors.forename: Hanadi F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Sleiman
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010618:Phenanthrolines / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D004247:DNA