Chiral Systems Made from DNA

The very chemical structure of DNA that enables biological heredity and evolution has non-trivial implications for the self-organization of DNA molecules into larger assemblies and provides limitless opportunities for building functional nanostructures. This progress report discusses the natural organization of DNA into chiral structures and recent advances in creating synthetic chiral systems using DNA as a building material. How nucleic acid chirality naturally comes into play in a diverse array of situations is considered first, at length scales ranging from an individual nucleotide to entire chromosomes. Thereafter, chiral liquid crystal phases formed by dense DNA mixtures are discussed, including the ongoing efforts to understand their origins. The report then summarizes recent efforts directed toward building chiral structures, and other structures of complex topology, using the principle of DNA self-assembly. Discussed last are existing and proposed functional man-made nanostructures designed to either probe or harness DNA's chirality, from plasmonics and spintronics to biosensing.

Automated summary

The chemical structure of DNA has implications for self-organization and building functional nanostructures, with recent advances focusing on natural and synthetic chiral systems using DNA. The role of nucleic acid chirality in various situations, liquid crystal phases, and efforts to build chiral structures through DNA self-assembly are discussed. Current and proposed man-made nanostructures designed to probe or utilize DNA's chirality are also explored, from plasmonics to biosensing.