718 An attempt to construct nano-structural elements using single strand DNA

Abstract

"Bottom up" is another possible approach to nanotechnology as well as the conventional "top down" approach. This approach requires special nano-structural elements with a size of nanometers and a property of self-assembly to an elaborate product. One strong candidate for the materials of such elements is single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), because this material possesses strict base-pair specificity and stereo selectivity. Here, we tried to construct several-nm-radius rings from ssDNA, as in the simplest system of design and construction of the nano-structural elements. Two kinds of ssDNA were designed, the body of the ring (Precursor) and a mediator that brings the DNA ends together (Template). Precursor was circularized by both Template and a ligating enzyme as designed, and formed the nano-rings in a topoisomeric fashion. Resultant products were further analyzed with exonuclease digestion for the confirmation of circularization.