Short DNA double helices in highly concentrated solutions self-assemble into long noncovalent polymers and globally order as liquid crystals. What level of helical defect is compatible with this collective ordering is still unclear. In this work, we show that a series of 20 bp-long DNA double helices with different structural defects such as nicks and gaps still retain their capability to transition into liquid crystalline solutions despite the increased flexibility of their structure. These results expand our understanding of the space of hybridization motifs leading to linear physical polymerization and liquid crystal ordering. Moreover, by studying liquid-crystalline solutions made of 20 bp-long duplexes with a central dinucleotidic gap, we find that regardless of the highly crowded state of the system, guanosine monophosphate molecules can diffuse in-between the DNA polymers and effectively fill the gap. This finding enables formulation of a prebiotic scenario where fragmented DNA double helices, held together by self-interactions and supramolecular ordering, form a matrix rich in substrates for ligation, gap-filling, and primer extension reactions.

Liquid Crystal Ordering in DNA Double Helices with Backbone Discontinuities / F. Fontana, T. Bellini, M. Todisco. - In: MACROMOLECULES. - ISSN 0024-9297. - 55:14(2022), pp. 5946-5953. [10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00856]

Liquid Crystal Ordering in DNA Double Helices with Backbone Discontinuities

T. Bellini;M. Todisco
2022

Abstract

Short DNA double helices in highly concentrated solutions self-assemble into long noncovalent polymers and globally order as liquid crystals. What level of helical defect is compatible with this collective ordering is still unclear. In this work, we show that a series of 20 bp-long DNA double helices with different structural defects such as nicks and gaps still retain their capability to transition into liquid crystalline solutions despite the increased flexibility of their structure. These results expand our understanding of the space of hybridization motifs leading to linear physical polymerization and liquid crystal ordering. Moreover, by studying liquid-crystalline solutions made of 20 bp-long duplexes with a central dinucleotidic gap, we find that regardless of the highly crowded state of the system, guanosine monophosphate molecules can diffuse in-between the DNA polymers and effectively fill the gap. This finding enables formulation of a prebiotic scenario where fragmented DNA double helices, held together by self-interactions and supramolecular ordering, form a matrix rich in substrates for ligation, gap-filling, and primer extension reactions.
Settore FIS/07 - Fisica Applicata(Beni Culturali, Ambientali, Biol.e Medicin)
   SOFT ADAPTIVE NETWORKS
   MINISTERO DELL'ISTRUZIONE E DEL MERITO
   2017Z55KCW_002
2022
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
macromol 22.pdf

Open Access dal 27/07/2023

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 3.14 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.14 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/943747
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 4
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 3
social impact