Point-and-shoot Strategy based on Enzyme-assisted DNA Paper-Cutting to Construct Arbitrary Planar DNA Nanostructures

DNA self-assembly provides a bottom-up route to fabricating complex shapes on the nanometer scale. However, each structure needs to be designed separately and carried out by professionally trained technicians, which seriously restricts its development and application. Herein, a point-and-shoot strategy based on enzyme-assisted DNA paper-cutting to construct planar DNA nanostructures using the same DNA origami as the template is reported. Precisely modeling the shapes with high precision in the strategy based on each staple strand of the desired shape structure hybridizes with its nearest neighbor fragments from the long scaffold strand. As a result, some planar DNA nanostructures by one-pot annealing the long scaffold strand and selected staple strands is constructed. The point-and-shoot strategy of avoiding DNA origami staple strands' re-designing based on different shapes breaks through the shape complexity limitation of the planar DNA nanostructures and enhances the simplicity of design and operation. Overall, the strategy's simple operability and great generality enable it to act as a candidate tool for manufacturing DNA nanostructures.

Automated summary

DNA self-assembly is a promising method for constructing complex nanostructures. However, the current approach requires separate design and professional operation, limiting its development and application. In this study, a novel point-and-shoot strategy based on enzyme-assisted DNA paper-cutting was proposed to construct planar DNA nanostructures using the same DNA origami as a template. By annealing the long scaffold strand and selected staple strands, planar DNA nanostructures were successfully constructed. This strategy overcomes the complexity limitation of planar DNA nanostructures and simplifies the design and operation process. Overall, this strategy shows great potential for manufacturing DNA nanostructures.