title: Nanostructures from Synthetic Genetic Polymers.
abstract: Nanoscale objects of increasing complexity can be constructed from DNA or RNA. However, the scope of potential applications could be enhanced by expanding beyond the moderate chemical diversity of natural nucleic acids. Here, we explore the construction of nano-objects made entirely from alternative building blocks: synthetic genetic polymers not found in nature, also called xeno nucleic acids (XNAs). Specifically, we describe assembly of 70 kDa tetrahedra elaborated in four different XNA chemistries (2'-fluro-2'-deoxy-ribofuranose nucleic acid (2'F-RNA), 2'-fluoroarabino nucleic acids (FANA), hexitol nucleic acids (HNA), and cyclohexene nucleic acids (CeNA)), as well as mixed designs, and a ∼600 kDa all-FANA octahedron, visualised by electron microscopy. Our results extend the chemical scope for programmable nanostructure assembly, with implications for the design of nano-objects and materials with an expanded range of structural and physicochemical properties, including enhanced biostability.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK. alex.taylor@concordia.ca.|Department of Biology/Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Rue Sherbrooke, Montreal, H4B 1R6, Canada. alex.taylor@concordia.ca.
authors.forename: Alexander I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories), 237 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JB, UK.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beuron
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
authors.forename: Sew-Yeu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Peak-Chew
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories), 237 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JB, UK.
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.|Institute of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Université Evry, 5 rue Henri Desbrueres, 91030, Evry Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herdewijn
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK. ph1@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holliger
mesh_terms: D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009696:Nucleic Acids; D011108:Polymers
keywords: DNA nanotechnology; chemical biology; electron microscopy; self-assembly; xeno nucleic acids (XNAs)