DNA origami gliders as programmable active particles

• Applicant: Dr. Florian Katzmeier
• Subject Area: Biophysics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 553862611

I aim to create programmable active nano- and microparticles with the DNA origami technique. DNA origami structures are created by folding a long, single-stranded DNA strand that serves as a scaffold, through the addition of short, single-stranded DNA strands functioning as staples. The resulting nanostructures can be programmed by choosing appropriate DNA sequences into any desired shape and can have site-specific modifications. In this project, I aim to establish a gliding assay with DNA origami structures, where DNA origami structures are propelled by dynein motor proteins on a surface. In a gliding assay, a surface is decorated with motor proteins. These motor proteins bind linear protein assemblies such as actin fibers or microtubules and propel them on the surface via ATP-fueled power strokes. In my approach, I will use existing chimeric dynein motor proteins with a DNA binding domain instead of a microtubule binding domain. By creating origamis with different shapes and interaction sites, I aim to program trajectories and particle-particle interactions. My approach is theory-assisted and includes modeling and experiments on the gliders' trajectories based on stochastic differential equations. I plan to establish design criteria for programmable trajectories and interactions based on modeling and experiments. Ultimately, I intend to create large, two-dimensional gliders using crisscross assembly, a hierarchical assembly technique recently developed by the Shih laboratory, which allows the creation of finite structures made out of multiple origamis.

• DFG Programme: WBP Fellowship
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor William Shih, Ph.D.