title: Pseudo-complementary PNA actuators as reversible switches in dynamic DNA nanotechnology.
abstract: The structural reorganization of nanoscale DNA architectures is a fundamental aspect in dynamic DNA nanotechnology. Commonly, DNA nanoarchitectures are reorganized by means of toehold-expanded DNA sequences in a strand exchange process. Here we describe an unprecedented, toehold-free switching process that relies on pseudo-complementary peptide nucleic acid (pcPNA) by using a mechanism that involves double-strand invasion. The usefulness of this approach is demonstrated by application of these peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) as switches in a DNA rotaxane architecture. The monomers required for generating the pcPNA were obtained by an improved synthesis strategy and were incorporated into a PNA actuator sequence as well as into a short DNA strand that subsequently was integrated into the rotaxane architecture. Alternate addition of a DNA and PNA actuator sequence allowed the multiple reversible switching between a mobile rotaxane macrocycle and a stationary pseudorotaxane state. The switching occurs in an isothermal process at room temperature and is nearly quantitative in each switching step. pcPNAs can potentially be combined with light- and toehold-based switches, thus broadening the toolbox of orthogonal switching approaches for DNA architectures that open up new avenues in dynamic DNA nanotechnology.
authors: Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Unit, LIMES Institute, c/o Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany.
authors: Damian
authors: D
authors: Ackermann
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Famulok
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D043862:Rotaxanes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D043862:Rotaxanes; D004247:DNA