Speaker: Ebbe S. Andersen (Centre for DNA Nanotechnology (CDNA), Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University) Title: DNA origami: Folding DNA into 2- and 3-dimensional shapes Time: Today, 15.15 Place: Fysisk Auditorium Abstract: Self-assembly is an attractive route towards construction at the nanoscale and is inspired by Nature where biomolecules readily self- assemble into well-defined and functional structures. In a “biokleptic” approach DNA nanotechnology has adapted naturally occurring structural DNA motifs to engineer geometrical shapes that can be efficiently self-assembled [1]. Recently, the DNA origami method was developed to build large two-dimensional DNA structures of arbitrary shape that can be used as a platform for arranging nanomaterials with high precision and specificity [2]. We have developed a software package for facilitating the design of DNA origami structures and initially used it to design the dolphins from the former logo of Aarhus University [3]. The software was further applied in the design of a three-dimensional DNA box with dimensions of 42 × 36 × 36 nm3 that can be opened and closed by external “key” signals [4]. The structure of the hollow DNA box is characterized by three structural techniques, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering, and atomic force microscopy, and opening of the lid was monitored optically by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. [1] Seeman, N. "Structural DNA nanotechnology: an overview". Methods Mol Biol 2005, 303, 143-66. [2] Rothemund, P. W. "Folding DNA to create nanoscale shapes and patterns". Nature 2006, 440, 297-302. [3] Andersen, E.S., Dong, M., Nielsen, M.M., Jahn, K., Lind-Thomsen, A., Mamdouh, W., Gothelf, K.V., Besenbacher, F., Kjems, J. "DNA Origami Design of Dolphin-Shaped Structures with Flexible Tails". ACS Nano 2008, 2, 6, 1213-1218. [4] Andersen, E. S., Dong, M., Nielsen, M. M., Jahn, K., Subramani, R., Mamdouh, W., Golas, M. M., Sander, B., Stark, H., Oliveira, C. L. P., Pedersen, J. S., Birkedal, V., Besenbacher, F., Gothelf, K. V., Kjems, J. "Self-assembly of a nanoscale DNA box with a controllable lid". Nature 2009, in press. Peter Staanum and Nicolai Nygaard