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Cover Feature: Regulating DNA Self‐assembly by DNA–Surface Interactions (ChemBioChem 24/2017)
Author(s) -
Liu Longfei,
Li Yulin,
Wang Yong,
Zheng Jianwei,
Mao Chengde
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.201700618
Subject(s) - dna , stacking , dna nanotechnology , sticky and blunt ends , chemistry , nanotechnology , dna origami , intercalation (chemistry) , protein–dna interaction , self assembly , crystallography , biophysics , chemical physics , base pair , computational biology , materials science , biology , biochemistry , dna binding protein , gene , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , transcription factor
The cover feature picture shows the self‐assembly of DNA motifs (tiles) regulated by DNA–surface interactions. The driving force to associate DNA motifs can be as weak as one or two pairs of blunt‐end stacking. Such a weak interaction cannot hold DNA motifs together by itself; however, it can be stabilized by DNA–surface interactions to allow the motifs to assemble into large nanostructures. Importantly, long structures arising from the assembly of short DNA duplexes, as observed in this study, might be relevant to the prebiotic development of life. The surface stabilization can be conveniently tuned by changing the concentration of Ni 2+ , which forms a salt bridge between DNA and the mica surface. In addition, the assembly can be conducted isothermally at room temperature in as little as 5 seconds, which is very desirable when heat‐sensitive guests, such as proteins, must be introduced. More information can be found in the communication by J. Zheng, C. Mao et al. on page 2404 in Issue 24, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700545).