Self-assembling Nanostructures from An Expanded Genetic Information System (AEGIS)

来自扩展遗传信息系统（AEGIS）的自组装纳米结构

• 批准号: 9871880
• 负责人: Steven Benner
• 金额: $ 50.9万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-09-15 至 2002-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9871880&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Self; assembling; Nanostructures; Expanded; Genetic

DNA and RNA are virtually unique among polymers in organic chemistry to display role-base self-assembly over a broad range of molecular structure. This self-assembly is the basis of biotechnology and genetics, and is the focus of this proposal. Work in the Benner laboratories has shown that the Watson-Crick base pair can support 12 nucleobases joined in six distinct base pairs, each joined by different patterns of hydrogen bonding, to give An Expanded Genetic Information System (AEGIS) following an expanded set of Watson- Crick pairing rules. AEGIS can be copied via template-directed polymerization catalyzed by DNA and RNA polymerases. Work in the Tan laboratories has developed and exploited near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) tools to image single molecules with 10- 20 nm resolution on two-dimensional surfaces, in particular, nanostructure functional probes having the dimensions of single molecules. Using these technologies, Tan has imaged a variety of molecules and nanostructures (buckminsterfulleranes, DNA chains, and cell membranes), photonanofabricated a variety of biochemically functionalized nanostructures, analyzed the kinetics of single enzyme molecules, and probed the release of metabolites inside single cells. The two research groups, housed in adjacent buildings, therefore have technologies ideally matched to undertake a collaborative project focusing on the practical aspects of synthesis/fabrication through bio-self assembly of nanostructures. Procedures for synthesizing the components of the nanostructures using biocatalysts (in particular, thermostable DNA polymerases) will be explored, with an eye towards in situ generation of the components of nanostructures. The cells of the largest nano-nets will be loaded with photoreactive groups that can be written/read by NSOM. We hope that this will create a small readable/writable memory element with obvious relevance to practical applications.

DNA和RNA在有机化学中的聚合物中几乎是独特的，以在广泛的分子结构范围内显示基于角色的自组装。 这种自我组装是生物技术和遗传学的基础，也是本提案的重点。 本纳实验室的工作表明，沃森-克里克碱基对可以支持12个碱基连接成6个不同的碱基对，每个碱基对通过不同的氢键模式连接，以给出扩展的遗传信息系统（AEGIS），该系统遵循扩展的沃森-克里克配对规则。AEGIS可以通过DNA和RNA聚合酶催化的模板定向聚合来复制。 Tan实验室的工作已经开发和利用了近场扫描光学显微镜（NSOM）工具，以在二维表面上以10- 20 nm的分辨率对单分子进行成像，特别是具有单分子尺寸的纳米结构功能探针。利用这些技术，Tan对各种分子和纳米结构（buckminsterfulleranes，DNA链和细胞膜）进行了成像，光子纳米制造了各种生化功能化的纳米结构，分析了单酶分子的动力学，并探测了单细胞内代谢物的释放。 这两个研究小组，住在相邻的建筑物，因此，有理想的匹配技术进行合作项目，重点是合成/制造的实际方面，通过生物自组装的纳米结构。 将探索使用生物催化剂（特别是热稳定的DNA聚合酶）合成纳米结构的组件的程序，着眼于原位生成的纳米结构的组件。最大的纳米网的单元将装载有可以由NSOM写入/读取的光反应基团。我们希望，这将创建一个小的可读/可写的内存元素，具有明显的相关性，以实际应用。