Self-assembly of genetically encoded DNA-protein hybrid nanoscale shapes.
We describe an approach to bottom-up fabrication that allows integration of the functional diversity of proteins into designed three-dimensional structural frameworks. A set of custom staple proteins based on transcription activator-like effector proteins folds a double-stranded DNA template into a user-defined shape. Each staple protein is designed to recognize and closely link two distinct double-helical DNA sequences at separate positions on the template. We present design rules for constructing megadalton-scale DNA-protein hybrid shapes; introduce various structural motifs, such as custom curvature, corners, and vertices; and describe principles for creating multilayer DNA-protein objects with enhanced rigidity. We demonstrate self-assembly of our hybrid nanostructures in one-pot mixtures that include the genetic information for the designed proteins, the template DNA, RNA polymerase, ribosomes, and cofactors for transcription and translation.
Physics Department and Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Garching bei München, Germany.
Florian
0000-0002-0806-8101
F
Praetorius
Physics Department and Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Garching bei München, Germany. dietz@tum.de.
Hendrik
0000-0003-1270-3662
H
Dietz
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005815:Genetic Code; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D000071336:Transcription Activator-Like Effectors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000071336:Transcription Activator-Like Effectors; D004247:DNA