Extending the Repertoire of Structures in DNA Nanotechnology | Science Publications

American Journal of Nanotechnology

Clive Delmonte¹ 

关键词: DNA Computation;    DNA Double Helix;    DNA Nanotechnology;    Paranemic DNA Helix;    Lő;    wdin Pairing of Base Pairs;    Z-DNA;   

DOI  :  10.3844/ajnsp.2015.16.22

学科分类：材料工程

来源: Science Publications

【 摘 要 】

DNA nanotechnology remains an activearea of research and advances have been reviewedrecently. DNAnanotechnology seeks to deploy molecules at an atomic level and on a small molecule scale. Other techniques in biophysics andbiochemistry do not need to address the issue of the true structure of thenucleic acids at an atomic level but, rather, at a macro-atomic level such asin genetics and in immunology, for example. Accordingly, DNA nanotechnology isperhaps uniquely dependent upon exact clarity in the secondary and tertiarystructures of the nucleic acids, as well as that can ever be achieved. Challengesinclude expanding the use of DNA in medicine, and the construction of detectorswith higher sensitivity for biological and chemical settings. Though increasinglycomplex architectures have been constructed, novel approaches to a greater rôlein biological computation and data storage remain important goals. Here arepertoire of structures for DNA at an atomic level is described which offers anew conjecture with which to move forward. The DNA double helix model facesmany problems which have become apparent in the 62 years of research inmolecular biology that have elapsed since it was formulated by Watson and Crick in 1953. Experimental evidence isset out seeking to show that the only truly side-by-side alternative, theparanemic model, accounts better for the wide range of phenomena otherwise inexplicable with the double helix model. This paranemic modelcan engage in a repertoire of structural options denied to the DNA double helixmodel. Without the requirement to postulate unwinding of the DNA strands, thenucleotide base sequence is immediately accessible to complementary DNAsequences to promote rapid detection of specific molecules in biological andmedical settings. Rapid switching between Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen basepairing and four-stranded structures can allow greater complexity in theconstruction of molecular switches and digital programming.

【 授权许可】

Unknown