Folding and Functionalizing DNA Origami: A Versatile Approach Using a Reactive Polyamine
DNA nanotechnology is a powerful synthetic approach to crafting diverse nanostructures through self-assembly. Chemical decoration of such nanostructures is often required to tailor their properties for specific applications. In this Letter, we introduce a pioneering method to direct the assembly and enable the functionalization of DNA nanostructures using an azide-bearing functional polyamine. We first demonstrate the successful polyamine-assisted folding of a scaffolded DNA origami nanostructure equipped with reactive azide groups. Leveraging this reactivity, we next showcase the decoration of the DNA origami via strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition with dibenzocyclooctyne-containing functional molecules. Specifically, we incorporate a fluorophore (Cy5), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and a hydrophobic phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) tag to tailor the properties of our DNA origami nanostructures. Our approach is expected to streamline and reduce the cost of chemical customization of intricate DNA nanostructures, paving the way for enhanced versatility and applicability.
Authors
- Santiago Sarasa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6517-1121)
- Alejandro Postigo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8632-0096)
- Silvia Hernández‐Ainsa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3109-4284)
- Anabel Lostao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7460-5916)
- Jesús del Barrio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5380-6863)
- Kerstin Göpfrich (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2115-3551)
- Tobias Walther (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1397-6777)
- Carlos Marcuello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3459-8605)
- William Verstraeten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4458-9579)
Institutions
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- Universidad de Zaragoza (ES)
- Fundacion Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigacion y el Desarrollo (ES)
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research (DE)
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of the American Chemical Society
- Published
- 2025-01-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.4c12637
- Citations
- 12
- Primary Topic
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.67
Funders
- European Molecular Biology Organization
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
- European Commission
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
- Universidad de Zaragoza
- Fundación Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigación y el Desarrollo
- Gobierno de Aragón
- Fundación Bancaria Ibercaja
- European Research Council
- European Regional Development Fund
- Erasmus+
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación
- European Social Fund