title: Programmed self-assembly of a quadruplex DNA nanowire.
abstract: The ability to produce, reproducibly and systematically, well-defined quadruplex DNA nanowires through controlled rational design is poorly understood despite potential utility in structural nanotechnology. The programmed hierarchical self-assembly of a long four-stranded DNA nanowire through cohesive self-assembly of GpC and CpG "sticky" ends is reported. The encoding of bases within the quadruplex stem allows for an uninterrupted π-stacking system with rectilinear propagation for hundreds of nanometers in length. The wire is mechanically stable and features superior nuclease resistance to double-stranded DNA. The study indicates the feasibility for programmed assembly of uninterrupted quadruplex DNA nanowires. This is fundamental to the systematic investigation of well-defined DNA nanostructures for uses in optoelectronic and electronic devices as well as other structural nanotechnology applications.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, Cromore Road, Coleraine, BT51 1SA (UK).
authors.forename: Nason Ma'ani
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Hessari
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spindler
authors.forename: Tinkara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Troha
authors.forename: Wan-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Drevenšek-Olenik
authors.forename: Mateus Webba
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004581:Electronics; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA; G-quadruplexes; G-wire; nanowires; self-assembly