學(xué)家可能已經(jīng)制造出了迄今為止最復(fù)雜的DNA“手工折紙”：僅為70納米高的一個(gè)微型3維花瓶,。
5年來(lái)，研究人員已經(jīng)能夠制造出DNA納米結(jié)構(gòu),，但大多數(shù)的形狀都相當(dāng)乏味,，例如盒子或多邊形，這是因?yàn)檠芯咳藛T需要沿著DNA的格釘或“像素”進(jìn)行折疊,。
在4月14日發(fā)表于美國(guó)《科學(xué)》雜志網(wǎng)絡(luò)版上的一篇論文中,，研究人員描述了一種新的折紙技術(shù)，即用不同半徑的DNA鏈形成的環(huán)形物,。
研究人員將這些環(huán)形物堆疊起來(lái),，從而形成了基本的3維形狀，隨后嵌入“交叉點(diǎn)”使DNA鏈與毗鄰的環(huán)混為一體,，最終將這一結(jié)構(gòu)連在一起,。
他們希望這個(gè)花瓶——上圖為一張?jiān)恿︼@微圖像以及一張計(jì)算機(jī)生成圖像——能夠用于醫(yī)學(xué)研究，例如將藥物或酶投遞到身體的特定部位,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1202998
DNA Origami with Complex Curvatures in Three-Dimensional Space
Dongran Han1,2,*, Suchetan Pal1,2, Jeanette Nangreave1,2, Zhengtao Deng1,2, Yan Liu1,2,*, and Hao Yan1,2,*
Abstract
We present a strategy to design and construct self-assembling DNA nanostructures that define intricate curved surfaces in three-dimensional (3D) space using the DNA origami folding technique. Double-helical DNA is bent to follow the rounded contours of the target object, and potential strand crossovers are subsequently identified. Concentric rings of DNA are used to generate in-plane curvature, constrained to 2D by rationally designed geometries and crossover networks. Out-of-plane curvature is introduced by adjusting the particular position and pattern of crossovers between adjacent DNA double helices, whose conformation often deviates from the natural, B-form twist density. A series of DNA nanostructures with high curvature—such as 2D arrangements of concentric rings and 3D spherical shells, ellipsoidal shells, and a nanoflask—were assembled.
