The programmability of DNA and its compatibility with oscillatory biological systems makes it an ideal material for generating out-of-equilibrium systems. However, the interactions and functionality of DNA are limited to the binary recognition of four nucleic acids. Expanding upon this DNA alphabet (to include metal ions, small molecules, and artificial nucleobases) diversifies the types of chemistries that can be performed with DNA, and its ability to form new structural motifs for programmable nanotechnology applications.
Our labs remove DNA from its biological context and repurpose it as a building block for nanotechnologies. In this talk, I’ll discuss how we can use chemistry – visible light, small molecules, and protons – to create non-equilibrium DNA architectures that are controlled through the time domain of their assembly. Central to this approach is the A-motif, formed through protonated adenine interactions, that allows reversible assembly with pH modulation. This motif is broadly applicable to individual DNA and RNA strands, micron-length DNA-based polymers, hydrogels, and transformable DNA origami. Light-activated acids can be leveraged to control the lifetime of these DNA origami structures, modulating their assembly in both spatial and temporal domains.