Fold your own DNA in a DNA Origami online simulator made available by Wyss Institute researchers. They released the recent tiny DNA tensegrity that we reported on here. They named this construction work "DNA Origami," a technique for folding pieces of DNA into shapes. With DNA origami, researchers take a long, single strand of DNA (called a scaffold) and fold it into a structure of their own design. These designs are held together with short "staple" strands, which are also made of DNA. Quote:
Each staple is coded with two specific sequences: one is the complement to a specific site on the scaffold; the other is the complement to a second location on the same scaffold. When the scaffold and staples are allowed to "self-assemble," the attachment of the staple strands causes the scaffold to bend and fold into the desired structure. In principle, the same approach could be used with RNA or any other informational molecule where complementary sequences can be engineered. The Wyss scientists can form three-dimensional shapes, such as a 3 strut t-prism, icosahedron, and other twisted and curved shapes. Their long-term goal is to produce cages, such as viruses do, in order to deliver desired pharmaceutical cargo to cells.
These scientists have now made available online a simulator of their work. The interactive feature that illustrates the basic idea of DNA origami by letting you manipulate a biomolecule, such as DNA or RNA. The general idea is the same as DNA origami, but instead of adding staple strands to the scaffold, you define the binding sequences on scaffold, keeping in mind how you'd like the strand to fold. They write,
When you're satisfied with your coding, click on the "Self-Assemble" button and watch the strand fold up on itself, connecting at points you've selected. The molecule should take shape as planned -- or not! Either way, you might discover something interesting as you build.
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