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Complex RNA-DNA hybrid nanoshapes from iterative mix-and-match screening

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Abstract

Hybrid nucleic acid nanostructures partition architectural and functional roles between ribonucleic acid (RNA) joints and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) connectors. Nanoshapes self-assemble from nucleic acid modules through synergistic stabilization of marginally stable base pairing interactions within circularly closed polygons. Herein, we report the development of hybrid nanoshapes that include multiple different RNA modules such as internal loop and three-way junction (3WJ) motifs. An iterative mix-and-match screening approach was used to identify suitable DNA connectors that furnished stable nanoshapes for combinations of different RNA modules. The resulting complex multicomponent RNA-DNA hybrid nanoshapes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. Our research provides proof of concept for modular design, assembly and screening of RNA-DNA hybrid nanoshapes as building blocks for complex extended nucleic acid materials with features at the sub-10 nm scale.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, Chemical Measurement & Imaging Program, grant number CHE CMI 1608287. We thank A. J. Lushnikov for helping with AFM imaging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Zhiyuan Zhang, Eugene Alforque & Thomas Hermann

  2. Center for Drug Discovery Innovation, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Thomas Hermann

  3. Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Shi Chen

Authors
  1. Shi Chen
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  2. Zhiyuan Zhang
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  3. Eugene Alforque
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  4. Thomas Hermann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Hermann.

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The authors declare no conflict of interests.

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Chen, S., Zhang, Z., Alforque, E. et al. Complex RNA-DNA hybrid nanoshapes from iterative mix-and-match screening. Nano Res. 14, 46–51 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-3008-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-3008-1

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