Branched DNA Nanostructures Research Articles

Thermostable Branched DNA Nanostructures as Modular Primers for Polymerase Chain Reaction

Chemical cross-linking was used to prepare DNA nanostructures with enhanced thermal stability. These thermostable DNA nanostructures were then utilized as modular primers in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR; see picture), thus enabling the production of multifunctionalized and branched PCR products for multiplexed detection and hydrogel formation.

Thermostable Branched DNA Nanostructures as Modular Primers for Polymerase Chain Reaction

Thermostable Branched DNA Nanostructures as Modular Primers for Polymerase Chain Reaction

Branched DNA nanostructures efficiently stabilised and monitored by novel pyrene–perylene 2′-α-l-amino-LNA FRET pairs

Novel pyrene-perylene α-L-LNA FRET pairs described herein effectively detect assembly of 2- and 3-way branched DNA nanostructures prepared by postsynthetic microwave-assisted CuAAC click chemistry. The fluorescent signalling of assembly by internally positioned FRET pairs is achieved with low to no fluorescence background signal, remarkably low limit of target detection values and stabilization of the resulting nanostructures.

Cell-Free Protein Expression from DNA-Based Hydrogel (P-Gel) Droplets for Scale-Up Production

Abstract This paper presents a promising potential scale-up method for cell-free protein production that integrates microfluidic devices and DNA-based hydrogels (P-gels). The microfluidic devices were fabricated using established photolithography techniques. The P-gels were formed via enzymatic ligation of branched DNA nanostructures with genes. More specifically, the microfluidic devices contained droplet-forming junctions through which numerous micron-sized P-gel droplets were produced. The advantages of our microfluidic-based approach include highly controlled fluid manipulation, rapid droplet generation, high reproducibility, and low sample consumption. P-gel droplets successfully expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) in high yield, and the microfluidic devices achieved a variety of P-gel droplet sizes while maintaining uniform morphology and a high generation rate. We envision that our system could provide a cell-free platform for both high-throughput and scale-up production of multiple proteins.

Ligase-mediated construction of branched DNA strands: a novel DNA joining activity catalyzed by T4 DNA ligase.

Branched nucleic acid strands exist as intermediates in certain biological reactions, and bifurcating DNA also presents interesting opportunities in biotechnological applications. We describe here how T4 DNA ligase can be used for efficient construction of DNA molecules having one 5' end but two distinct 3' ends that extend from the 2' and 3' carbons, respectively, of an internal nucleotide. The nature of the reaction products is investigated, and optimal reaction conditions are reported for the construction of branched oligonucleotides. We discuss the utility of these branched DNA nanostructures for gene detection.