title: RecA protein mediated nano-scale patterning of DNA scaffolds.
abstract: Molecular lock-and-key functionality inherent to a large number of biological molecules is arguably one of the most promising potential routes for building complex nanostructures and eventually nano-electronic devices by self-assembly. Here, we report the use of the DNA-binding protein RecA as a tool for patterning DNA scaffolds site-specifically and in a programmable way at the nanometre-scale. This is demonstrated by patterning a 3 kilo-base-pair double-stranded DNA molecule at ten different locations with nanometre-sized RecA-based nucleoprotein filaments. This protein-based molecular patterning technique, which is site-specific, programmable, and scalable, offers a potential basis for molecular lithography applications, and opens previously inaccessible routes towards the fabrication of complex functional nano-electronic devices by self-assembly.
authors.affiliation: School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: A Giles
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wälti
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D011938:Rec A Recombinases