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Using DNA to Power Nanostructures

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Abstract

DNA hybridization has been used to power a number of DNA-based nanostructures constructed out of DNA. Here some considerations that go into DNA-based motor design are briefly reviewed. The emphasis will be on the operation of toeholds, single-stranded sections of DNA that facilitate the process of strand removal during certain points in the operation of a DNA-based motor. Reaction kinetics measurements for toehold mediated strand exchange are reported. These measurements have served as a guide for choosing toehold lengths.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, NJ, 07974

    Bernard Yurke

  2. Department of Physics, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521-0208

    Allen P. Mills Jr.

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  1. Bernard Yurke
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  2. Allen P. Mills Jr.
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Yurke, B., Mills, A.P. Using DNA to Power Nanostructures. Genet Program Evolvable Mach 4, 111–122 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023928811651

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