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Stefan Diez

Applications of biomolecular motor systems for nano-manipulation and nano-detecion

We aim to use biomolecular motor systems to manipulate nanostructures in a highly parallel manner. Along these lines, we used kinesin motors in combination with biotinylated microtubules to transport and stretch individual λ-phage DNA molecules across a surface [1]. Moreover, we recently succeeded in specifically attaching the second end of the DNA molecules to gold microstructures on the substrate surface [2]. This technique, in contrast to existing ones, enables the parallel yet individual manipulation of many DNA molecules and may offer an efficient mechanism for the generation of multidimensional, DNA-based nanocircuits.

Transport and Stretching of DNA molecules:


a) Biotinylated microtubules, which are driven over a glass surface by kinesin motor proteins, are used to transport and stretch individual λ-phage DNA molecules that are biotinylated at their ends and attached to the microtubule via a streptavidin linkage.


b) Fluorescence micrograph of a moving microtubule (red) transporting (white arrows) and stretching individual DNA molecules. Scale bar 5 µm [1].


Collaboration with the research group of Joe Howard (MPI-CBG) and Michael Mertig (Max-Bergmann-Center for Biomaterials, Dresden)

Motile microtubule transporting and stretching individual DNA molecules. The stretched DNA is extended to its full contour length of about 17 µm [1].

One-dimensional gradients of grafted poly(ethylene glycol), were used to create a gradually changing surface density of kinesin motor molecules. Such a bioactive surface can be used to sort gliding microtubules according to their length [3].

References

[1] S. Diez, C. Reuther, C. Dinu, R. Seidel, M. Mertig, W. Pompe, J. Howard
Stretching and Transporting DNA Molecules Using Motor Proteins
Nano Letters, 3: 1251-1254

[2] C. Z. Dinu, J. Opitz, W. Pompe, J. Howard, M. Mertig, S. Diez
Parallel manipulation of bifunctional DNA molecules on structured surfaces using kinesin-driven microtubules
Small, Vol. 2, pp. 1090-1098, 2006

[3] L. Ionov, M. Stamm, S. Diez
Size sorting of protein assemblies using polymeric gradient surfaces
Nano Letters, Vol. 5, pp. 1910-1914, 2005

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