Orthogonal regulation of DNA nanostructure self-assembly and disassembly using antibodies

Here we report a rational strategy to orthogonally control assembly and disassembly of DNA-based nanostructures using specific IgG antibodies as molecular inputs. We first demonstrate that the binding of a specific antibody to a pair of antigen-conjugated split DNA input-strands induces their co-localization and reconstitution into a functional unit that is able to initiate a toehold strand displacement reaction. The effect is rapid and specific and can be extended to different antibodies with the expedient of changing the recognition elements attached to the two split DNA input-strands. Such an antibody-regulated DNA-based circuit has then been employed to control the assembly and disassembly of DNA tubular structures using specific antibodies as inputs. For example, we demonstrate that we can induce self-assembly and disassembly of two distinct DNA tubular structures by using DNA circuits controlled by two different IgG antibodies (anti-Dig and anti-DNP antibodies) in the same solution in an orthogonal way. Antibodies are useful biomarkers and are emerging as powerful therapeutic tools. Here the authors report a rational strategy to orthogonally control assembly and disassembly of DNA-based nanostructures using specific IgG antibodies as molecular inputs.