According to the latest issue of Progress in Science, the open source software program newly developed by researchers at Duke University and Arizona State University allows users to draw circular drawings or digital models, and convert them into 3D structures composed of DNA. Each 3D structure is a tiny hollow body with a diameter of no more than 5 parts per million. A needle can hold more than 50000 such microstructures. Researchers say these are not just nano sculptures. The software allows researchers to make micro containers to transport drugs, or to make molds for casting metal nanoparticles with specific shapes, for solar cells, medical imaging, etc. For most people, DNA is the blueprint of life, the genetic instruction of all living things. But for new research, DNA is not only the carrier of genetic information, but also the source code and construction materials. There are four "letters" or bases in the genetic code of DNA, which are paired in a predictable way in cells to form a ladder of DNA ladder. The researchers used these strict base pairing characteristics of DNA - A and T, C and G. By designing DNA strands with specific sequences, they can "program" these strands and piece them together into different shapes. This method includes folding one or several thousands of base long single strand DNA with the help of hundreds of short DNA strands. These short DNA strands combine with complementary sequences on the long strand and "fix" them in place. The researchers developed the software DNAxiS, which works by winding a long DNA double helix into concentric rings. These concentric rings are stacked to form the outline of an object, just like using clay rings to make a pot. To make the structures stronger, the team can also reinforce them with additional layers to improve stability. The research team showed the various shapes they could make: cone, gourd and clover. DNAxiS is the first software tool that allows users to automatically design such shapes. It uses algorithms to determine where to place short DNA "staples" to connect longer DNA rings together and fix the shapes in place. For example, given a mushroom shaped model, the computer will spit out a series of DNA strands, which will self assemble into the correct structure. Once the strands have been synthesized and mixed in a test tube, the rest will be processed by themselves: by heating and cooling the DNA mixture, it can magically fold into a DNA nanostructure in just 12 hours. Researchers say their DNA design software has taken a big step forward in the automatic design of new three-dimensional structures. (Reporter Zhang Mengran) Editor in chief circle DNA. The biological macromolecules we are most familiar with not only carry a lot of biological information, but also can be used as an important component of nanostructures and nano devices today - which is also a new hotspot around DNA research in recent years. DNA becomes a self assembling material, which can be folded like paper to build the required 3D nanostructures. This paper introduces a newly developed open source software program. Users can design various shapes by themselves, such as mushroom shape and gourd shape. Software
Edit：luoyu Responsible editor：wangxiaojing
Source：stdaily.com
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