Computational design of co-assembling protein-DNA nanowires

Nature. 2015 Sep 10;525(7568):230-3. doi: 10.1038/nature14874. Epub 2015 Sep 2.

Abstract

Biomolecular self-assemblies are of great interest to nanotechnologists because of their functional versatility and their biocompatibility. Over the past decade, sophisticated single-component nanostructures composed exclusively of nucleic acids, peptides and proteins have been reported, and these nanostructures have been used in a wide range of applications, from drug delivery to molecular computing. Despite these successes, the development of hybrid co-assemblies of nucleic acids and proteins has remained elusive. Here we use computational protein design to create a protein-DNA co-assembling nanomaterial whose assembly is driven via non-covalent interactions. To achieve this, a homodimerization interface is engineered onto the Drosophila Engrailed homeodomain (ENH), allowing the dimerized protein complex to bind to two double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecules. By varying the arrangement of protein-binding sites on the dsDNA, an irregular bulk nanoparticle or a nanowire with single-molecule width can be spontaneously formed by mixing the protein and dsDNA building blocks. We characterize the protein-DNA nanowire using fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray crystallography, confirming that the nanowire is formed via the proposed mechanism. This work lays the foundation for the development of new classes of protein-DNA hybrid materials. Further applications can be explored by incorporating DNA origami, DNA aptamers and/or peptide epitopes into the protein-DNA framework presented here.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Drug Design*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / chemistry
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nanotechnology
  • Nanowires / chemistry*
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • En protein, Drosophila
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • DNA

Associated data

  • PDB/4QTR