Intaking molecular information from the external environment is essential for the proper functioning of artificial cells/molecular robots. Herein, we report the design and function of a membrane nanopore using a...

Purification of functional DNA nanostructures is an essential step in achieving intended functions because misfolded structures and the remaining free DNA strands in a solution can interact and affect their behavior. However, due to hydrophobicity-mediated aggregation, it is difficult to purify DNA nanostructures modified with hydrophobic molecules by conventional methods. Herein, we report the purification of cholesterol-modified DNA nanostructures by using a novel surfactant-assisted gel extraction. The addition of sodium cholate (SC) to the sample solution before structure folding prevented aggregation; this was confirmed by gel electrophoresis. We also found that adding sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to the sample inhibited structural folding. The cholesterol-modified DNA nanostructures prepared with SC were successfully purified by gel extraction, and their ability to bind to the lipid membrane surfaces was maintained. This method will facilitate the purification of DNA nanostructures modified with hydrophobic molecules and expand their applicability in the construction of artificial cell-like systems.

This cover picture shows how the aggregation of modified DNA nanostructures can be prevented during their purification procedure. In the article by S. M. Nomura and Y. Sato et al., cholesterol‐modified DNA nanostructures are purified by a novel surfactant‐assisted gel extraction method, in which the addition of sodium cholate to the sample solution before structure folding prevented the formation of aggregates. The purified structures retain the ability to attach to lipid vesicle membranes. More information can be found in the Research Article by S. Iwabuchi, S. M. Nomura, Y. Sato.

Here, we report on the design and function of a membrane nanopore through a DNA origami square tube with a cross-section of 100 nm2 . When the nanopore is added onto the giant vesicle membrane, the permeation of hydrophilic fluorescent molecules was observed. It can be sealed by the existence of the four specific single strand DNAs. A controllable artificial nanopore should help to communicate the vesicle components with their environment