Editor's Summary

17 January 2008

Making strides with DNA

DNA is the construction material of choice for self-assembling nanostructures, but most examples of its use have focused on specific targets, rather than aspiring to the versatility achieved in nature. Yin et al. take a step towards versatility with a new system, based on modular DNA 'hairpins', that allows assembly and disassembly pathways to be programmed into DNA building blocks. Key to the new protocol is the 'reaction graph', a simple representation of DNA modules and their interactions that simplifies the overall design process. This allows assembly programs to prepare branched junction molecules, self-catalysing pairs of DNA duplexes, molecular trees and a bipedal molecule that walks along a DNA track.

Letter: Programming biomolecular self-assembly pathways

Peng Yin, Harry M. T. Choi, Colby R. Calvert & Niles A. Pierce

doi:10.1038/nature06451

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