Construction of a structurally defined double-stranded DNA catenane.

Schmidt, Thorsten L; Heckel, Alexander · Nano Lett · 2011

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Topologically interlocked structures like catenanes and rotaxanes are promising components for the construction of molecular machines and motors. Herein we describe the construction of double-stranded DNA catenanes for DNA nanotechnology. For this, C-shaped DNA minicircle fragments were equipped with sequence-specific DNA-binding polyamides and their respective binding site. Formation of catenanes is achieved by self-assembly of two of these fragments and subsequent addition of a ring-closing oligonucleotide.

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