Chidchob, P; Offenbartl-Stiegert, D; McCarthy, D; Luo, X; Li, J; Howorka, S; Sleiman, HF; (2018) Spatial presentation of cholesterol units on a DNA cube as a determinant of membrane protein-mimicking functions. Journal of the American Chemical Society , 141 (2) pp. 1100-1108. 10.1021/jacs.8b11898.

Preview

Text Howorka Revised Manuscript upload.pdf - Accepted Version Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

Cells use membrane proteins as gatekeepers to transport ions and molecules, catalyze reactions, relay signals, and interact with other cells. DNA nanostructures with lipidic anchors are promising as membrane protein mimics because of their high tuneability. However, the design features specifying DNA nanostructure's functions in lipid membranes are yet to be fully understood. Here, we show that altering patterns of cholesterol units on a cubic DNA scaffold dramatically changes its interaction mode with lipid membranes. This results in simple design rules that allow a single DNA nanostructure to reproduce multiple membrane protein functions: peripheral anchoring, nanopore behavior and conformational switching to reveal membrane-binding units. Strikingly, the DNA-cholesterol cubes constitute the first open-walled DNA nanopores, as only a quarter of their wall is made of DNA. This functional diversity can increase our fundamental understanding of membrane phenomena, and results in sensing, drug delivery and cell manipulation tools.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as XMLCSVJSON

Archive Staff Only

View Item