DNA nanostructures coordinate gene silencing in mature plants

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1818290116
• Publication Date: 2019-03-26T00:28:27Z
• Authors: Huan Zhang; Gozde S. Demirer; Honglu Zhang; Tianzheng Ye; Natalie S. Goh; Abhishek J. Aditham; Francis J. Cunnin...; Chunhai Fan; Markita P. Landry
• Keywords: Nicotiana; 570; DNA, Plant; Medical Biotechnology; RNA delivery; Bioengineering; Genetically Modified; plant biotechnology; Small Interfering; 03 medical and health sciences; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genetics; Nanotechnology; plant biotechnology | DNA nanotechnology | siRNA gene silencing | RNA delivery | DNA origami; DNA nanotechnology; Gene Silencing; RNA, Small Interfering; 2. Zero hunger; 0303 health sciences; Multidisciplinary; Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Gene Transfer Techniques; Gene Therapy; DNA; Plant; Biological Sciences; Plants; Plants, Genetically Modified; siRNA gene silencing; Gene Expression Regulation; RNA, Plant; Brassicaceae; RNA; Nanoparticles; Generic health relevance; DNA origami; Biotechnology

Significance Plant bioengineering will be necessary to sustain plant biology and agriculture, where the delivery of biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, or proteins to plant cells is at the crux of plant biotechnology. Here, we show that DNA nanostructures can internalize into plant cells and deliver siRNA to mature plant tissues without external aid. Furthermore, we demonstrate that nanostructure size, shape, compactness, and stiffness affect both nanostructure internalization into plant cells and subsequent gene silencing efficiency. Interestingly, we also find that the siRNA attachment locus affects the endogenous plant gene silencing pathway. Our work demonstrates programmable delivery of biomolecules to plants and details the figures of merit for future implementation of DNA nanostructures in agriculture.