Engineering Lipid Membranes with Programmable DNA Nanostructures. Issue 1 (9th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shen, Qi; Grome, Michael W.; Yang, Yang; Lin, Chenxiang
• Is Part Of: Advanced biosystems. Volume 4:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-12-09
• Subjects: DNA nanotechnology -- lipid bilayers -- membrane curvature -- membrane remodeling -- nanopores -- vesicles; Biological systems -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Bioengineering -- Periodicals; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biological Science Disciplines; Periodicals; Periodicals; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900215
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2366-7478

Abstract

Abstract: Lipid and DNA are abundant biomolecules with critical functions in cells. The water‐insoluble, amphipathic lipid molecules are best known for their roles in energy storage (e.g., as triglyceride), signaling (e.g., as sphingolipid), and compartmentalization (e.g., by forming membrane‐enclosed bodies). The soluble, highly negatively charged DNA, which stores the cells' genetic information, has proven to be an excellent material for constructing programmable nanostructures in vitro thanks to its self‐assembling capabilities. These two seemingly distant molecules make contact within cell nuclei, often via lipidated proteins, with proposed functions of modulating chromatin structures. Carefully formulated lipid/DNA complexes are promising reagents for gene therapy. The past few years have seen an emerging research field of interfacing DNA nanostructures with lipid membranes, with an overarching goal of generating DNA/lipid hybrid materials that possess novel and controllable structure, dynamics, and function. An arsenal of DNA‐based tools has been created to coat, mold, deform, and penetrate lipid bilayers, affording the ability to manipulate membranes with nanoscopic precision. These membrane engineering methods not only enable quantitative biophysical studies, but also open new opportunities in synthetic biology (e.g., artificial cells) and therapeutics (e.g., drug delivery). Abstract : In cells, sophisticated protein machineries modulate membrane structure and dynamics. However, evolution presents these beautiful constructs without a user manual, making them difficult to dissect and re‐engineer. With cutting‐edge DNA nanotechnology, scientists can now build artificial nanostructures that look and act like membrane‐manipulating proteins, but with programmable functions. These tools will come in handy for basic research and biotechnology.