DNA has been well-known for its applications in programmable self-assembly of materials. Nonetheless, utility of DNA origami, which offers more opportunity to realize complicated operations, has been very limited. Here we report self-assembly of a biomolecular motor system, microtubule-kinesin mediated by DNA origami nanostructures. We demonstrate that a rodlike DNA origami motif facilitates self-assembly of microtubules into asters. A smooth-muscle like molecular contraction system has also been realized using the DNA origami in which self-assembled microtubules exhibited fast and dynamic contraction in the presence of kinesins through an energy dissipative process. This work provides potential nanotechnological applications of DNA and biomolecular motor proteins.

This study introduces a modeling method for a supermolecular structure of microtubules for the development of a force generation material using motor proteins. 3D imaging by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to obtain 3D volume density data. The density data were then interpreted by a set of cylinders with the general-purpose 3D modeling software Blender, and a 3D network structure of microtubules was constructed. Although motor proteins were not visualized experimentally, they were introduced into the model to simulate pulling of the microtubules toward each other to yield shrinking of the network, resulting in contraction of the artificial muscle. From the successful force generation simulation of the obtained model structure of artificial muscle, the modeling method introduced here could be useful in various studies for potential improvements of this contractile molecular system.

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