A DNA-fuelled molecular machine made of DNA

Bernard Yurke, Andrew J. Turberfield (), Allen P. Mills, Friedrich C. Simmel and Jennifer L. Neumann
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Bernard Yurke: Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
Andrew J. Turberfield: Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
Allen P. Mills: Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
Friedrich C. Simmel: Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies
Jennifer L. Neumann: Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies

Nature, 2000, vol. 406, issue 6796, 605-608

Abstract: Abstract Molecular recognition between complementary strands of DNA allows construction on a nanometre length scale. For example, DNA tags may be used to organize the assembly of colloidal particles1,2, and DNA templates can direct the growth of semiconductor nanocrystals3 and metal wires4. As a structural material in its own right, DNA can be used to make ordered static arrays of tiles5, linked rings6 and polyhedra7. The construction of active devices is also possible—for example, a nanomechanical switch8, whose conformation is changed by inducing a transition in the chirality of the DNA double helix. Melting of chemically modified DNA has been induced by optical absorption9, and conformational changes caused by the binding of oligonucleotides or other small groups have been shown to change the enzymatic activity of ribozymes10,11,12,13. Here we report the construction of a DNA machine in which the DNA is used not only as a structural material, but also as ‘fuel’. The machine, made from three strands of DNA, has the form of a pair of tweezers. It may be closed and opened by addition of auxiliary strands of ‘fuel’ DNA; each cycle produces a duplex DNA waste product.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35020524

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