title: Topological DNA Assemblies Containing Identical or Fraternal Twins.
abstract: DNA catenanes are assemblies made up of two or more DNA rings linked together through mechanical bonds, and they are desirable for engineering unique nanoscale devices. However, current methods of synthesizing DNA catenanes rely on the formation of strong linking duplexes between component units to enable interlocking and thus do not permit the synthesis of complex single-stranded DNA structures with freely functioning units. We have recently reported DNA sequences that can thread through a DNA circle without the formation of a linking duplex. Here we show that these unique DNA molecules can be further used to make intricate symmetric or asymmetric DNA [3]catenanes, single-stranded DNA assemblies made up of a central mother ring interlocked to two identical or fraternal twin daughter rings, which have never been reported before. These addressable freely functioning interlocked DNA rings should facilitate the design of elaborate nanoscale machines based on DNA.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.|Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
authors.forename: Zai-Sheng
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.|School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Chashan University Town, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China.
authors.forename: Zhifa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Kha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tram
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors.forename: Bruno J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Salena
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. liying@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Yingfu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D043864:DNA, Catenated / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
chemical_list: D043864:DNA, Catenated; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes
keywords: DNA; catenanes; circular DNA; nanodevices; nanotechnology