Many tiny force sensors Several techniques can measure forces on biomolecules, but the need to connect molecule macroscopic world often limits rate at which data be taken. Nickels et al. created large arrays of nanoscale by using DNA origami structures. Single-stranded molecules different lengths attached interest acted as entropic springs, with shorter strands exerting more force. The authors used their setup study bending induced TATA-binding protein. Science , this issue p. 305

Biological membranes fulfill many important tasks within living organisms. In addition to separating cellular volumes, confine the space available membrane-associated proteins two dimensions (2D), which greatly increases their probability interact with each other and assemble into multiprotein complexes. We here employed DNA origami structures functionalized cholesterol moieties as membrane anchors—a three-layered rectangular block a Y-shaped structure—to mimic membrane-assisted assembly...

The quantum yield of a fluorophore is reduced when two or more identical fluorophores are in close proximity to each other. study protein folding particle aggregation can be done based on this above-mentioned phenomenon—called self-quenching. However, it challenging characterize the self-quenching at high concentrations because inner filter effect, which involves depletion excitation light and re-absorption emission light. Herein, novel method directly evaluate behavior was developed....

Elaborating efficient strategies and deepening the understanding of light transport at nanoscale is great importance for future designs artificial light-harvesting assemblies dye-based photonic circuits. In this work, we focus on studying phenomenon Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) among fluorophores same kind (homo-FRET) its implications cascades containing two or three different dye molecules. Utilizing spatial programmability DNA origami, arranged a chain cyanine 3 (Cy3) dyes...

Multihelical DNA bundles could enhance the functionality of nanomaterials and serve as model architectures to mimic protein filaments on molecular cellular level. We report self-assembly micrometer-sized helical nanotubes with widely controllable diameters ranging from tens nanometers a few micrometers. Nanoscale shapes tile tubes (4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-helix tubes) are achieved by introducing discrete amounts bending twist through base pair insertions and/or deletions. Microscale diameters,...

The use of templates is a well-established method for the production sequence-controlled assemblies, particularly long polymers. Templating canonically envisioned as akin to self-assembly process, wherein sequence-specific recognition interactions between template and pool monomers favor assembly particular polymer sequence at equilibrium. However, during biogenesis polymers, are transient; RNA proteins detach spontaneously from their perform biological functions allow reuse. Breaking puts...

DNA nanostructures offer the possibility to mimic functional biological membrane components due their nanometer-precise shape configurability and versatile biochemical functionality. Here we show that diffusional behavior of assembly into higher order membrane-bound lattices can be controlled in a stop-and-go manner process monitored with super-resolution imaging. The structures are transiently immobilized on glass-supported lipid bilayers by changing mono- divalent cation concentrations...

Nanodiamond – functionalised with oligoglycine is used as a novel Pickering emulsion stabiliser, offering high retention on bovine cornea tissue via mucoadhesion.

DNA nanotechnology offers the possibility to rationally design structures with emergent properties by precisely controlling their geometry and functionality. Here, we demonstrate a DNA-based plasmonic metamolecule that is capable of sensing human thrombin proteins. The chiral reconfigurability origami structure carrying two gold nanorods was used provide optical read-out binding through changes in displayed circular dichroism. In our experiments, each arm modified one different...

Drug development using marine bioresources is limited even though the ocean occupies about 70% of earth and contains a large number biological materials. From screening test sponge extracts, we found Hyrtios sp. collected from Chuuk island, Micronesia. In this study, extract was examined for anticancer activity against human colorectal carcinoma RKO cells that are wildtype p53 RKO-E6 defective. The dose-dependently inhibited viability in both cell lines. Multinucleation as an indication...

Current single-molecule techniques do not permit the real-time observation of multiple proteins interacting closely with each other. We here report an approach enabling us to determine fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) kinetics protein-protein interactions occurring far below diffraction limit. observe a strongly cooperative formation multimeric soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes, which suggests that first SNARE complex...

Synthetic RNA systems offer unique advantages such as faster response, increased specificity, and programmability compared to conventional protein-based networks. Here, we demonstrate an in vitro RNA-based toggle switch using aptamers capable of inhibiting the transcriptional activity T7 or SP6 polymerases. The activities both polymerases are monitored simultaneously by Broccoli malachite green light-up aptamer systems. In our switch, a promoter drives expression inhibitory aptamers,...

Although various anticancer drugs have been developed for the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer, chemotherapeutic efficacy is still limited. Natural products such as phytochemicals screened novel alternative materials, but funds marine bioresources remain largely untapped. Of these resources, sponges undergone most scrutiny their biological activities, including antiinflammatory, antiviral, and properties. However, mechanisms activities are unclear. We investigated activity collected...

Synthetic molecular circuits implementing DNA or RNA strand-displacement reactions can be used to build complex systems such as computers and feedback control systems. Despite recent advances, application of nucleic acid-based in vivo remains challenging due a lack efficient methods produce their essential components, namely, multistranded complexes known gates, situ, i.e., living cells other autonomous Here, we propose the use naturally occurring self-cleaving ribozymes cut single-stranded...

Cationic amyloid fibrils, including the Semen Enhancer of Virus Infection (SEVI), have recently been described in human semen. Simple methods for quantitating these fibrils are needed to improve our understanding their biological function. We performed high-throughput screening identify molecules that bind SEVI, and identified a small molecule (8E2), fluoresced brightly presence SEVI other cationic fibrils. 8E2 bound with almost 40-fold greater affinity than thioflavin-T, could efficiently...

Deficiency of either the two homologs poly(ADP‐ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), PARG‐1 and PARG‐2, in Caenorhabditis elegans leads to hypersensitivity ionizing radiation (IR). In germ cells parg‐2 mutant worms, dissipation recombinase RAD‐51 foci was slower than wild‐type (WT) cells, suggesting defects DNA double‐strand break (DSB) repair via homologous recombination (HR). Nevertheless, RPA‐1, large subunit replication protein A, accumulated faster worms disappeared earlier WT worms. This...

Abstract Information propagation by sequence-specific, template-catalyzed molecular assembly is the source of biochemical complexity living systems. Templating allows production thousands sequence-defined proteins from only 20 distinct building blocks. By contrast, exploitation this powerful chemical motif rare in non-biological contexts, particularly enzyme-free environments, where even formation dimers a significant challenge. The main obstacle product inhibition: tendency products to bind...

One of the main objectives synthetic biology is development molecular controllers that can manipulate dynamics a given biochemical network at most partially known. When integrated into smaller compartments, such as living or cells, have to be calibrated factor in intrinsic noise. In this context, put forward literature focused on manipulating mean (first moment) and reducing variance (second target species. However, many critical processes are realized via higher-order moments, particularly...