title: pH-Controlled Assembly of DNA Tiles.
abstract: We demonstrate a strategy to trigger and finely control the assembly of supramolecular DNA nanostructures with pH. Control is achieved via a rationally designed strand displacement circuit that responds to pH and activates a downstream DNA tile self-assembly process. We observe that the DNA structures form under neutral/basic conditions, while the self-assembly process is suppressed under acidic conditions. The strategy presented here demonstrates a modular approach toward building systems capable of processing biochemical inputs and finely controlling the assembly of DNA-based nanostructures under isothermal conditions. In particular, the presented architecture is relevant for the development of complex DNA devices able to sense and respond to molecular markers associated with abnormal metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Rome , Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amodio
authors.affiliation: PhD School of Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Trieste , Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy.|Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine , Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Abimbola Feyisara
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Adedeji
authors.affiliation: PhD School of Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Trieste , Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy.|Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine , Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy.|School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castronovo
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California , Riverside, California 92521, United States.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Rome , Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004247:DNA