A desktop super-resolution microscope for structural analysis of complex DNA nanostructures
Abstract
Broad applications of DNA Nanostructures (DNs) requires high fidelity validation of structuralintegrity. The process of DNA self-a"ssembly is error-prone, and experimental feedback on thestructure and composition of 3D DNA nanostructures will be required to deve"lop robust designprinciples that minimize DNA self-assembly defects if the full potential of 3D DNA-basednanostructure-devices is to be realized. A key functional advantage of DNs that we are exploitingfor our DOD-funded efforts is the ability to program diverse ssDNA handles to be present atuser-determined positions on a DN device. These handles can be used for site-specificfunctionaliz"ation, or else as components for a strand-displacement cascade that serves to carryout a computation or else actuate conformational"" changes in the DNA nanodevice. A criticalclass of defects involves handles that are not available for hybridization, either becaus""e they aremissing entirely, or else hidden due to misfolding. DNA PAINT (Points Accumulation forImaging in Nanoscale Topography) i"s a super-resolution imaging method well suited forquantifying such defects on a single-particle basis; it achieves blinking of tar"gets via transient binding of dye-labeled DNA oligonucleotides, diffusing freely in solution, to complementary ssDNA handles. Here," we describe how a desktop super-resolution system (i.e. Oxford Nanoimager) would provide a compelling enhancement to our DOD-funded" efforts by providingquality-control analysis on ssDNA handle unctionalization of DNs, a critical prerequisite fordownstream appl"ications of DNs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712724
Entities
People
- William M. Shih
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- President and Fellows of Harvard College
- United States Navy