Self‐Assembly of Hybrid Peptide−DNA Nanostructures using Homotrimeric Coiled‐Coil/Nucleic Acid Building Blocks

Abstract

AbstractPeptides and DNA are two of the most commonly used self‐assembling biological molecules for the construction of nanomaterials. However, there are only a few examples that combine these two self‐assembly motifs as key structural elements in a nanostructure. We report on the synthesis of a peptide−DNA conjugate that self‐assembles into a stable homotrimer based on the coiled‐coil motif. The hybrid peptide−DNA trimer was then used as a novel three‐way junction to link together either small DNA tile nanostructures, or to close up a triangular wireframe DNA structure. The resulting nanostructures were characterized by atomic force microscopy, and compared with a scrambled, non‐assembling peptide as a control. These hybrid nanostructures enable the integration of peptide motifs and potentially bio‐functionality with DNA nanostructures, and open the door to novel nano‐materials that have the advantages of both molecules.