“Printing” DNA Strand Patterns on Small Molecules with Control of Valency, Directionality, and Sequence

Breaking symmetry: A highly modular method to covalently transfer different DNA sequences with controllable directionality, length, and valency onto different synthetic molecules is reported. These DNA‐imprinted small molecules can be elongated asymmetrically to different lengths in high yield using PCR and can be chemically replicated.

Abstract

The incorporation of synthetic molecules as corner units in DNA structures has been of interest over the last two decades. In this work, we present a facile method for generating branched small molecule‐DNA hybrids with controllable valency, different sequences, and directionalities (5′–3′) using a "printing" process from a simple 3‐way junction structure. We also show that the DNA‐imprinted small molecule can be extended asymmetrically using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and can be replicated chemically. This strategy provides opportunities to achieve new structural motifs in DNA nanotechnology and introduce new functionalities to DNA nanostructures.

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2zVOdMy