Addressable molecular tweezers for DNA-templated coupling reactions

Rahul Chhabra, Jaswinder Sharma, Yan Liu, Hao Yan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

Here we report the construction of fully addressable DNA-based molecular tweezers to actuate coupling reactions in a programmable fashion. Three tweezers, each bearing two coupling reactants, are self-assembled on a linear DNA track. A fourth tweezer floating freely in solution can be brought to any one of the tweezers and close them by the addition of a unique pair of "fuel" DNA strands. The coupling reactions happen when the tweezers are closed, and this can be controlled sequentially from one tweezer to another. A molecular device of this kind would not only enable programmable chemical reactions but also allow distance-dependent control of biomolecular interactions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)978-983
Number of pages6
JournalNano Letters
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering

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