Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates

Hirotake Udono, Shin-ichiro M. Nomura and Masahiro Takinoue ()
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Hirotake Udono: Institute of Science Tokyo
Shin-ichiro M. Nomura: Tohoku University
Masahiro Takinoue: Institute of Science Tokyo

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Membrane-free synthetic DNA-based condensates enable programmable control of dynamic behaviors as shown by phase-separated condensates in biological cells. We demonstrate remote-controlled microflow using photocontrollable state transitions of DNA condensates, assembled from multi-branched DNA nanostructures via sticky-end (SE) hybridization. Introducing azobenzene into SEs enables their photoswitchable binding affinity, which underlies photoreversible fluidity of the resulting condensates that transition between gel/liquid/dissociated states in a wavelength-dependent manner. Leveraging base-sequence programmability, spatially coupled orthogonal DNA condensates with divergent photoresponsive capabilities perform multi-modal mechanical actions that depend on azobenzene insertion sites in the SE, including switching flows radially expanding and converging under photoswitching. Localizing photoswitching within a DNA liquid condensate generates two distinct directional motions, whose contrasting morphology, direction, and lifetime are determined by switching frequency. Numerical simulations reveal its regulatory role in weight-adjusting energy-exchanging and energy-dissipative interactions between the photoirradiated and unirradiated domains.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59100-x

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