Wednesday, 17 March, 2010

The DNA tug-o-war

Exploiting molecular forces to control the form of nanostructures

 

© Nano Letters 10, 1446 (2010)

The ability to manipulate structures that have dimensions in the nanometer range (one millionth of a millimetre) in a controlled manner is at the heart of modern nanotechnology. Perhaps surprisingly, DNA is one of the most versatile tools available for use in this realm of the minuscule. DNA is found in linear and closed-circular forms in cells, and as such they can serve as component for the assembly of nanostructures of technological interest. The conformations adopted by DNA molecules depend on their intrinsic characteristics and the forces that act upon them. LMU researchers led by the biophysicist Professor Erwin Frey, in cooperation with colleagues based at the EPFL in Switzerland, have quantified the effects of these different factors on the shapes of DNA rings on surface. We have been able to arrive at a quantitative description of DNA rings, so that we can now translate basic molecular characteristics like chain diameter and rigidity directly into nanoscopic parameters such as the form and the area occupied by polymer rings, says Frey. We hope that this detailed understanding of polymer behaviour will enable us to develop new sorts of nanostructures. (Nanoletters online, 17 March 2010) (...)

Press information LMU (english)
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Publication "Excluded Volume Effects on Semiflexible Ring Polymers"