title: Functional self-assembled DNA nanostructures for molecular recognition.
abstract: Nucleic acids present a wonderful toolkit of structural motifs for nanoconstruction. Functional DNA nanostructures can enable protein recognition by the use of aptamers attached to a basic core shape formed by DNA self-assembly. Here, we present a facile, programmable strategy for the assembly of discrete aptamer-tagged DNA shapes and nanostructures that can function for molecular recognition and binding in an aqueous environment. These nanostructures, presented here to bind two different protein targets, are easily synthesized in large numbers, and are portable and stable over long periods of time. This construction modality can facilitate on-demand production of libraries of diverse shapes to recognize and bind proteins or catalyze reactions via functional nucleic acid tags.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Vamsi K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Yadavalli
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001665:Binding Sites; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013917:Thrombin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D011506:Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004247:DNA; D013917:Thrombin