CHED 842 |
| Short sequences of DNA can be designed to self-assemble into extended structures based on Watson-Crick pairing rules. The most generic design scheme makes use of building blocks, or “tiles”, of three or more strands that hybridize into a core of cross-linked double helices with single-stranded sticky ends. We use tiles known as double-crossovers (DX units) to self-assemble tubular polymers of DNA that are up to 100 µm in length, ~10 nm in diameter and correspondingly stiff. We seek to understand how tile design determines the kinetics and thermodynamics of nanotube nucleation and growth and so lay a foundation for practical applications of this and other tile-based nucleic acid architectures. Applications include reproducing biological phenomena (e.g. microtubule dynamic instability) and replacing sub-micron lithographic patterning. |
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Exploring and Exploiting Nature with Biomimetics
1:30 PM-4:45 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N230A, Level 2, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |