DNA DESIGNER CRYSTALS

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是针对中心的，而不一定是针对调查员的机构。我们的研究计划旨在利用基于分支DNA的新型高分子构建块作为特定3D结构设计的基础。开发这些系统的最终目标是提供一种大分子支架，能够结合、定向和并列各种分子，从细胞大分子到有机导体和光存储元件。我们建议确定3D周期阵列的结构，它代表了这种类型的第一个设计的3D系统。这里的最终目标是使用这些阵列来制作大分子结晶的一般形式的原型，其中DNA成分形成主体晶格和所有晶体接触，大分子客体在存在的空腔内排列。这个系统很可能使以前难以实现这种有序化的大分子物种进行初始结晶，并且它还被设计成能够分析先前结晶的分子，这些分子结合到配体上，这些配体的存在扰乱了它们的传统晶格。在纳米尺度上产生特定结构的能力也应该使我们能够使用这个系统来产生连接到DNA单元上的所谓货物杂化分子的有序排列。因此，这项研究很可能会导致纳米电子元件在3D中的组织，从而导致更小的和可能更快的计算

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Our research program is designed to utilize new types of macromolecular building blocks, based on branched DNA, as the basis of specific 3D structural designs. The goal of developing the systems is eventually to provide a macromolecular scaffolding, capable of binding, orienting and juxtaposing a variety of molecules, from cellular macromolecules to organic conductors and optical memory components. We propose to determine the structures of 3D periodic arrays, which represent the first designed 3D systems of this sort. The ultimate goal here is to use these arrays to prototype a general form of macromolecular crystallization, in which the DNA components form the host lattice and all crystalline contacts, and macromolecular guests are aligned within the cavities present. This system is likely to enable the initial crystallization of macromolecular species previously intractable to such ordering, and it is also designed to allow analysis of previously crystallized molecules bound to ligands whose presence disrupts their conventional lattices. The ability to produce specific structures on the nanoscale should also enable us to use this system to produce ordered arrangements of so-called cargo hetero-molecules that are attached to the DNA units. Thus, the organization of nanoelectronic components in 3D, leading to smaller and presumably faster computation will likely result from this research