Nucleic Acid Engineering focuses
on manipulating nucleic acid molecules (including DNA,
RNA, TNA, LNA, and PNA) in a
generic,
instead of
genetic way in order to
engineer nucleic acids into novel materials. Two working
hypotheses are: one, in addition to linear DNA molecules,
branched DNA molecules can be linked via enzyme-catalyzed
controlled assembly processes as basic building blocks,
which will significantly expand the potential of using
nucleic acids as construction materials rather than
genetic information carriers; and two, the architecture
of such DNA materials can be precisely defined and controlled
at the nanoscale level with
high yield and
low cost. The potential of Nucleic Acid Engineering
in both biomedical and non-biomedical applications is
expected to be great.
Related publications:
S. Um, J. Lee, S. Kwon, Y. Li and D. Luo, Dendrimer-Like
DNA (DL-DNA) Based Fluorescence Nature
Protocols in press, (2006)
Y. Li, Y. Cu and D. Luo, DNA fluorescence nanobarcodes
for multiplexed pathogen detection, Nature
Biotechnology (2005)
K.O. Freedman, J. Lee, Y. Li, D. Luo, V.B. Skobeleva,
and P.C. Ke, Diffusion of Single Star-Branched Dendrimer-Like
DNA, J. of Phy. Chem. B. (2005)
S.M. Stavis, J.B. Edel, Y. Li, K.T. Samiee, D Luo
and H.G. Craighead, Detection and identification of
nucleic acid engineered fluorescent labels in submicrometer
fluidic channels, Nanotechnology,
in press (2005)
Y. Li, Y.D. Tseng, S.Y. Kown, L. d'Espaux, J.S. Bunch,
P.L McEuen and D. Luo. Controlled assembly of dendrimer-like
DNA. Nature Materials 3, 38-42 (2004).
D. Luo. The road from biology to materials. Materials
Today, 6, 38-43 (2003)
For other related information,
please browse our "Publication" section.
