Directing and Probing DNA Origami Self-Assembly on Dynamic Surfaces

非技术性：这个奖项由材料研究部的生物材料计划授予加州大学默塞德分校，目的是了解DNA如何折叠以制造各种大规模结构。自然界已经发展出将生物分子组装成复杂的生物结构的能力，这使得分子组件能够协同工作，执行生命的复杂功能。一项长期的努力是开发允许分子构建块自组织成更高顺序结构的方法。DNA折纸方法使用带有互补序列的短寡核苷酸链将长的单链DNA分子折叠成纳米级的形状。通过开发高分辨率的显微镜技术，可以在DNA折纸结构形成时捕捉它们的快照，PI将开始了解自组装过程的机制。这项研究的发现可能会使复杂结构的自我组装成为可能，这些结构可以执行新的功能，如传感、纳米电子和光子电路。该项目将为研究生和博士后研究人员提供跨学科培训，这是应对生物分子材料领域备受瞩目的挑战所需的。它还将为加州大学默塞德分校的本科生带来新的研究机会，他们中的很大一部分是代表不足的少数族裔。PI将与当地学区合作，主持实验室参观并开发纳米科学演示。技术：该项目寻求了解DNA折纸的自组装路径，并引入精确的表面相互作用来调节自组装过程。通常使用的系综光谱和非原位显微镜技术提供了关于中间体结构的有限信息。PI将DNA折纸折叠到动态自组装单分子层(SAM)表面，可以快速捕获中间结构，用于高分辨率AFM成像。随着折叠中间体的详细结构信息，PI将开始重建和阐明折叠途径。基于实验室开发的新型表面化学，PI将使单个寡核苷酸分子能够在SAM表面形成特定大小、形状和内部排列的折纸瓷砖。如果成功，这项研究将大大推进对DNA折纸纳米结构自组装过程的理解，并有可能形成具有更复杂功能的更大结构。该项目将培养研究生和博士后学者，以应对生物分子材料领域的高调挑战，这是一个需要高度跨学科解决方案的领域。

Non-technical: This award by the Biomaterials Program in the Division of Materials Research to University of California, Merced is to understand how DNA folds to make a variety of large scale structures. Nature has developed the ability to assemble biomolecules into complex biological structures which allow the molecular components to work in concert to perform the elaborate functions of life. A long-standing endeavor is to develop methods that allow molecular building blocks to self-organize into higher order structures. The DNA origami method folds a long, single-stranded DNA molecule into nanoscale shapes using short oligonucleotide strands with complementary sequences. By developing high-resolution microscopy techniques that can capture snapshots of individual DNA origami structures as they form, the PI will begin to understand the mechanism of the self assembly process. The findings of this research may enable the self-assembly of complex structures that can perform novel functions such as sensing and nanoelectronic and photonic circuits.The project will provide graduate students and postdoc researchers with interdisciplinary training that is needed to address high-profile challenges in biomolecular materials. It will also bring new research opportunities to undergraduate students at UC Merced, a large fraction of whom are under-represented minorities. Working with the local school district, the PI will host lab tours and develop nanoscience demonstrations.Technical:The project seeks to understand the self-assembly pathways of DNA origami and introduce precise surface interactions to regulate the self-assembly process. The ensemble spectroscopy and ex-situ microscopy techniques commonly used provide limited information concerning the intermediate structures. The PI will fold DNA origami tiles on dynamic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surfaces, which can rapidly trap the intermediate structures for high resolution AFM imaging. With detailed structural information of the folding intermediates, the PI will begin to reconstruct and elucidate the folding pathways. Building upon novel surface chemistry developed in the lab, the PI will enable individual oligonucleotide molecules to nucleate the formation of origami tiles of specific size, shape and internal arrangement on the SAM surface. If successful, the study will significantly advance the understanding of the self-assembly process of DNA origami nanostructures and potentially allow the formation of much larger structures with more sophisticated functions. The project will prepare graduate students and a postdoctoral scholar to tackle high-profile challenges in biomolecular materials, a field demanding highly interdisciplinary solutions.