DNA nanochannels

F1000Res. 2017 Apr 18:6:503. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.10464.1. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Transmembrane proteins are mostly nanochannels playing a highly important role in metabolism. Understanding their structures and functions is vital for revealing life processes. It is of fundamental interest to develop chemical devices to mimic biological channels. Structural DNA nanotechnology has been proven to be a promising method for the preparation of fine DNA nanochannels as a result of the excellent properties of DNA molecules. This review presents the development history and current situation of three different types of DNA nanochannel: tile-based nanotube, DNA origami nanochannel, and DNA bundle nanochannel.

Keywords: DNA nanotechnology; bundle nanochannel; nanostructures; origami nanochannel; tile-based nanotube.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

Funding was received from the National Basic Research Program of China (973 program) (grant number 2013CB932803) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 91427302 and 21421064).