Strategies to Build Hybrid Protein–DNA Nanostructures

Abstract

Proteins and DNA exhibit key physical chemical properties that make them advantageous for building nanostructures with outstanding features. Both DNA and protein nanotechnology have growth notably and proved to be fertile disciplines. The combination of both types of nanotechnologies is helpful to overcome the individual weaknesses and limitations of each one, paving the way for the continuing diversification of structural nanotechnologies. Recent studies have implemented a synergistic combination of both biomolecules to assemble unique and sophisticate protein–DNA nanostructures. These hybrid nanostructures are highly programmable and display remarkable features that create new opportunities to build on the nanoscale. This review focuses on the strategies deployed to create hybrid protein–DNA nanostructures. Here, we discuss strategies such as polymerization, spatial directing and organizing, coating, and rigidizing or folding DNA into particular shapes or moving parts. The enrichment of structural DNA nanotechnology by incorporating protein nanotechnology has been clearly demonstrated and still shows a large potential to create useful and advanced materials with cell-like properties or dynamic systems. It can be expected that structural protein–DNA nanotechnology will open new avenues in the fabrication of nanoassemblies with unique functional applications and enrich the toolbox of bionanotechnology.

DNA functionalized programmable hybrid biomaterials for targeted multiplexed applications

“…Today, the bottom-up selfassembly approach of DNA nanotechnology has been utilized for conjugation with various organic and inorganic materials to develop novel hybrid constructs. 31,35,36 2.1.2 Electrostatic interaction. Extensive research has been made towards developing novel hybrid materials utilizing the polyanionic nature of DNA.…”

Graphene Oxide and Biomolecules for the Production of Functional 3D Graphene-Based Materials

“…There are numerous functions in which proteins are involved within organisms, such as enzymatic activity (e.g., oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, ligases, and isomerases), transport (e.g., haemoglobin and albumin), structure (e.g., actin, tubulin, keratin), defense (e.g., immunoglobulins) and more. Noticeably, both DNA sequences and proteins can be customized to carry specific modifications to accommodate specific needs for application in bio-nanotechnology and synthetic biology ( Eckhart et al, 2020 ; Stephanopoulos, 2020 ; Hernandez-Garcia, 2021 ). These characteristics make these biomolecules extremely appealing and for some aspects, superior to biopolymers.…”

Therapeutic Applications of Programmable DNA Nanostructures

“…Moreover, compared to the design of DNSs that cross multiple DNA double helices in parallel to form stiff multi-helical bundles or sheets or using a scaffold for the organization of DNA strands, using hybrid protein-DNA complexes might be a simpler strategy. For a broader topic of building hybrid protein-DNA nanomaterials, we point to a review by Armando Hernadez-Garcia [32]. It will be problematic to employ DNSs for therapeutic purposes if it results in lysosomal degradation.…”