Visualization of multimerization and self-assembly of DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles using in-liquid transmission electron microscopy.
Base-pairing stability in DNA-gold nanoparticle (DNA-AuNP) multimers along with their dynamics under different electron beam intensities was investigated with in-liquid transmission electron microscopy (in-liquid TEM). Multimer formation was triggered by hybridization of DNA oligonucleotides to another DNA strand (Hyb-DNA) related to the concept of DNA origami. We analyzed the degree of multimer formation for a number of samples and a series of control samples to determine the specificity of the multimerization during the TEM imaging. DNA-AuNPs with Hyb-DNA showed an interactive motion and assembly into 1D structures once the electron beam intensity exceeds a threshold value. This behavior was in contrast with control studies with noncomplementary DNA linkers where statistically significantly reduced multimerization was observed and for suspensions of citrate-stabilized AuNPs without DNA, where we did not observe any significant motion or aggregation. These findings indicate that DNA base-pairing interactions are the driving force for multimerization and suggest a high stability of the DNA base pairing even under electron exposure.
Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
Sercan
S
Keskin
University of Hamburg , Chemistry Department, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Martin-Luther-King Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.|The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging , Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
Stephanie
S
Besztejan
Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
Günther
G
Kassier
Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
Stephanie
S
Manz
Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
Robert
R
Bücker
Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) , Institute of Microsystems Technology, Eißendorfer Straße 42, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
Svenja
S
Riekeberg
Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) , Institute of Microsystems Technology, Eißendorfer Straße 42, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
Hoc Khiem
HK
Trieu
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster , Institute of Biochemistry, 48149 Muenster, Germany.|Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC 1003 - CiM), University of Muenster , 48149 Muenster, Germany.
Andrea
A
Rentmeister
Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter , Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761 Hamburg, Germany.|The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging , Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.|Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto , 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
R J Dwayne
RJ
Miller
D002951:Citrates / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013499:Surface Properties
D002951:Citrates; D006046:Gold; D004247:DNA