Molecular Machinery from DNA: Synthetic Biology from the Bottom up

Abstract

DNA is a wonderful material for nanoscale construction, enabling the creation of synthetic biological systems from the bottom up. Its self-assembly can be programmed using information embedded in base sequence, and its hybridization or hydrolysis can be used as to provide energy for synthetic molecular machinery. With DNA it is possible to design and build three-dimensional scaffolds, to attach molecular components to them with sub-nanometre precision - and then to make them move. I shall describe our work on assembly pathways, on autonomous, biomimetic molecular motors powered by chemical fuels and the use of synthetic molecular machinery to control covalent chemical synthesis. I shall demonstrate bipedal motors whose operation depends on the coordination of the chemomechanical cycles of two separate catalytic centres and burnt bridges motors that can be programmed to navigate networks of tracks. I shall also discuss the use of kinesin motor proteins to power synthetic devices.