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Steric Communication between Dynamic Components on DNA Nanodevices.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wang, Y; Sensale, S; Pedrozo, M; Huang, C-M; Poirier, MG; Arya, G; Castro, CE
Published in: ACS nano
May 2023

Biomolecular nanotechnology has helped emulate basic robotic capabilities such as defined motion, sensing, and actuation in synthetic nanoscale systems. DNA origami is an attractive approach for nanorobotics, as it enables creation of devices with complex geometry, programmed motion, rapid actuation, force application, and various kinds of sensing modalities. Advanced robotic functions like feedback control, autonomy, or programmed routines also require the ability to transmit signals among subcomponents. Prior work in DNA nanotechnology has established approaches for signal transmission, for example through diffusing strands or structurally coupled motions. However, soluble communication is often slow and structural coupling of motions can limit the function of individual components, for example to respond to the environment. Here, we introduce an approach inspired by protein allostery to transmit signals between two distal dynamic components through steric interactions. These components undergo separate thermal fluctuations where certain conformations of one arm will sterically occlude conformations of the distal arm. We implement this approach in a DNA origami device consisting of two stiff arms each connected to a base platform via a flexible hinge joint. We demonstrate the ability for one arm to sterically regulate both the range of motion and the conformational state (latched or freely fluctuating) of the distal arm, results that are quantitatively captured by mesoscopic simulations using experimentally informed energy landscapes for hinge-angle fluctuations. We further demonstrate the ability to modulate signal transmission by mechanically tuning the range of thermal fluctuations and controlling the conformational states of the arms. Our results establish a communication mechanism well-suited to transmit signals between thermally fluctuating dynamic components and provide a path to transmitting signals where the input is a dynamic response to parameters like force or solution conditions.

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Published In

ACS nano

DOI

EISSN

1936-086X

ISSN

1936-0851

Publication Date

May 2023

Volume

17

Issue

9

Start / End Page

8271 / 8280

Related Subject Headings

  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nanotechnology
  • Nanostructures
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • DNA
 

Citation

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Wang, Y., Sensale, S., Pedrozo, M., Huang, C.-M., Poirier, M. G., Arya, G., & Castro, C. E. (2023). Steric Communication between Dynamic Components on DNA Nanodevices. ACS Nano, 17(9), 8271–8280. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c12455
Wang, Yuchen, Sebastian Sensale, Miguel Pedrozo, Chao-Min Huang, Michael G. Poirier, Gaurav Arya, and Carlos E. Castro. “Steric Communication between Dynamic Components on DNA Nanodevices.ACS Nano 17, no. 9 (May 2023): 8271–80. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.2c12455.
Wang Y, Sensale S, Pedrozo M, Huang C-M, Poirier MG, Arya G, et al. Steric Communication between Dynamic Components on DNA Nanodevices. ACS nano. 2023 May;17(9):8271–80.
Wang, Yuchen, et al. “Steric Communication between Dynamic Components on DNA Nanodevices.ACS Nano, vol. 17, no. 9, May 2023, pp. 8271–80. Epmc, doi:10.1021/acsnano.2c12455.
Wang Y, Sensale S, Pedrozo M, Huang C-M, Poirier MG, Arya G, Castro CE. Steric Communication between Dynamic Components on DNA Nanodevices. ACS nano. 2023 May;17(9):8271–8280.
Journal cover image

Published In

ACS nano

DOI

EISSN

1936-086X

ISSN

1936-0851

Publication Date

May 2023

Volume

17

Issue

9

Start / End Page

8271 / 8280

Related Subject Headings

  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nanotechnology
  • Nanostructures
  • Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • DNA