Using DNA to construct and power a nanoactuator

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Abstract

A DNA-based molecular machine is described which has two movable arms that are pushed apart when a strand of DNA, the fuel strand, hybridizes with a single-stranded region of the molecular machine. Through the process of branch migration, a second strand of DNA complementary to the fuel strand is able to remove the fuel strand from the molecular machine, restoring it to its original configuration. Compared with the molecular tweezers we had previously devised, this machine, which we call a nanoactuator, has a reduced tendency to form dimers.

Original languageEnglish
Article number041913
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume63
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Nanotechnology/methods
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • DNA/chemistry
  • Time Factors
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Dimerization

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