小环DNA构建手性分子瓦及调控B-Z构象的DNA纳米结构

The life secret of how DNA molecules regulate their primary, secondary, and tertiary structures to be involved in the duplication, transcription, homologous recombination, and DNA repair is diligently sought by scientists. DNA nanotechnology provides a useful way to construct stable DNA tiles and further to DNA nanostructures in the size scale of 10 to 10000 nanometers which can be imaged and monitored easily by modern microscopy technologies. Scientists can understand the secondary and tertiary DNA structures deeply according to whether an artificial DNA nanostructure can be constructed successfully or not. We pioneered the research on using small circular DNA molecules for DNA nanotechnology and primarily succeeded in constructing B-Z racemic DNA nanostructures. This discovery opens our vision on the Holliday Junction structures. In this project, we will construct more new types of stable DNA tiles, nanostructures, and carry out their dynamic modifications. Especially, we will focus on constructing 3D DNA nanostructures with B-Z convertible transformation. With the customer-designed modification mode, we will enhance collaboration with other scientists to investigate the biomedical application of small circular DNA nanotechnology.

生命体系中稳定的遗传物质DNA分子如何调控其分子结构而进行复制、转录、同源重组、和DNA修复等生命活动一直是科学家们孜孜以求的生命奥秘，DNA纳米技术提供了构建DNA分子瓦的思路和有序装配DNA分子瓦形成现代显微技术容易测控的10至10000纳米尺度的纳米结构，DNA纳米技术让科学家构建人造纳米结构从分子层次来详细地认识和了解DNA的二级和三级结构。我们创新性地使用小环DNA分子制备稳定手性分子瓦并由此构筑显微技术可控的一维、二维、和三维纳米结构，初步构建了可动态调控B-Z构象的人造DNA纳米结构，拓展了对"霍利迪结"（Holliday Junction）结构的理解和认识。该培育项目将构建新型小环DNA分子瓦、多种纳米结构、及其动态化学修饰，尤其聚焦可动态调控B-Z构象的DNA三维纳米结构的深入研究，并加强合作，按需修饰DNA纳米结构，探讨小环DNA纳米技术在生物医学领域的应用。