title: Engineered Diblock Polypeptides Improve DNA and Gold Solubility during Molecular Assembly.
abstract: Programmed molecular recognition is being developed for the bionanofabrication of mixed organic/inorganic supramolecular assemblies for applications in electronics, photonics, and medicine. For example, DNA-based nanotechnology seeks to exploit the easily programmed complementary base-pairing of DNA to direct assembly of complex, designed nanostructures. Optimal solution conditions for bionanofabrication, mimicking those of biological systems, may involve high concentrations of biomacromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, etc.) and significant concentrations of various ions (Mg2+, Na+, Cl-, etc.). Given a desire to assemble diverse inorganic components (metallic nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon nanostructures, etc.), it will be increasingly difficult to find solution conditions simultaneously compatible with all components. Frequently, the use of chemical surfactants is undesirable, leaving a need for the development of alternative strategies. Herein, we discuss the use of artificial, diblock polypeptides in the role of solution compatibilizing agents for molecular assembly. We describe the use of two distinct diblock polypeptides with affinity for DNA in the stabilization of DNA origami and DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (spheres and rods) in solution, protection of DNA from enzymatic degradation, as well as two 3D tetrahedral DNA origamis. We present initial data showing that the diblock polypeptides promote the formation in the solution of desired organic/inorganic assemblies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States.
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7042-5440
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Estrich
authors.affiliation: Simpson Querrey Institute for Bionanotechnology, Northwestern University , Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.|Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research Centre , Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5505-3423
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research Centre , Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Renko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6739-2059
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: LaBean
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D015202:Protein Engineering; D012995:Solubility; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010455:Peptides; D006046:Gold; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA nanotechnology; diblock polypeptide; directed self-assembly; molecular assembly; protein engineering; protein polymer; solution compatibilization