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Reprogramming the assembly of unmodified DNA with a small molecule
Abstract
The ability of DNA to store and encode information arises from base pairing of the four-letter nucleobase code to form a double helix. Expanding this DNA 'alphabet' by synthetic incorporation of new bases can introduce new functionalities and enable the formation of novel nucleic acid structures. However, reprogramming the self-assembly of existing nucleobases presents an alternative route to expand the structural space and functionality of nucleic acids. Here we report the discovery that a small molecule, cyanuric acid, with three thymine-like faces, reprogrammes the assembly of unmodified poly(adenine) (poly(A)) into stable, long and abundant fibres with a unique internal structure. Poly(A) DNA, RNA and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) all form these assemblies. Our studies are consistent with the association of adenine and cyanuric acid units into a hexameric rosette, which brings together poly(A) triplexes with a subsequent cooperative polymerization. Fundamentally, this study shows that small hydrogen-bonding molecules can be used to induce the assembly of nucleic acids in water, which leads to new structures from inexpensive and readily available materials.
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“Additionally, as alternative chemistries emerge, including unnatural nucleotides147 and small molecules that can modulate the structure of DNA,148 the parameter space for structure- and sequence-based DNA data storage is continually expanding.”
From Emerging Approaches to DNA Data Storage: Challenges and Prospects (2022) · cites this paper as [148]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Avakyan, N., Greschner, A. A., Aldaye, F., Serpell, C. J., Toader, V., Petitjean, A., & Sleiman, H. F.
- Affiliations
- McGill University (CA)
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (CA)
- University of Kent (GB)
- Queen's University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Sleiman, Hanadi F.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Chemistry
- Published
- 2016-02-22
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 368-376
- ISSN
- 1755-4330 (ISSN-L)
- 1755-4349
- OpenAlex
- W2283133204
- Cited by
- 148
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 11
- FWCI
- 8.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Chemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- Keywords
- cyanuric acid, nucleic acid self-assembly, triplex DNA, peptide nucleic acid, nucleic acid nanostructures
- MeSH terms
- Circular Dichroism, DNA, Hydrogen Bonding, Poly A, Triazines, Peptide Nucleic Acids
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