Multiple
DNA Architectures with the Participation of Inorganic Metal Ions
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Abstract
Here we develop a synthetic protocol
for assembling DNA with participating metal ions into multiple shapes.
DNA molecules first form coordination complexes with metal ions and
these coordination complexes become nucleation sites for primary crystals
of metal inorganic salt, and then elementary units of space-filling
architectures based on specific geometry form, and finally elementary
units assemble into variously larger multiple architectures according
to different spatial configurations. We anticipate that our strategy
for self-assembling various custom architectures is applicable to
most biomolecules possessing donor atoms that can form coordination
complexes with metal ions. These multiple architectures provide a
general platform for the engineering and assembly of advanced materials
possessing features on the micrometer scale and having novel activity