Micrometer-sized network structure of novel DNA-lipid conjugates induced by heat stimulation

Soft Matter. 2015 Sep 21;11(35):7053-8. doi: 10.1039/c5sm01456e. Epub 2015 Aug 7.

Abstract

We have developed a novel lipid-bearing DNA that forms hairpin modules, including a single RNA monomer; this can be used to create micrometer-sized structures from nanometer-sized building blocks during breakage at the RNA site. In the presence of divalent metal ions and heat stimulation, we observed transition of the self-assembly, which results in the formation of a three-dimensional network structure. To our knowledge, this is also the first report of heat-induced micrometer-sized molecular self-assembly of molecules that carry biological information.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Inverted Repeat Sequences
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Magnesium / chemistry
  • RNA / chemistry

Substances

  • Lipids
  • RNA
  • DNA
  • Magnesium