Self-assembling knots of controlled topology by designing the geometry of patchy templates

Nature Communications
Guido PollesCristian Micheletti

Abstract

The self-assembly of objects with a set of desired properties is a major goal of material science and physics. A particularly challenging problem is that of self-assembling structures with a target topology. Here we show by computer simulation that one may design the geometry of string-like rigid patchy templates to promote their efficient and reproducible self-assembly into a selected repertoire of non-planar closed folds including several knots. In particular, by controlling the template geometry, we can direct the assembly process so as to strongly favour the formation of constructs tied in trefoil or pentafoil, or even of more exotic torus knots. Polydisperse and racemic mixtures of helical fragments of variable composition add further tunability in the topological self-assembly we discovered. Our results should be relevant to the design of new ways to synthesize molecular knots, which may prove, for instance, to be efficient cargo-carriers due to their mechanical stability.

References

Apr 23, 1993·Science·S Y Shaw, J C Wang
Jun 1, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·V V RybenkovA V Vologodskii
Sep 3, 1996·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·H WangN C Seeman
Apr 18, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·George M Whitesides, Mila Boncheva
Jun 17, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Javier ArsuagaJoaquim Roca
Dec 27, 2005·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Mark A Miller, David J Wales
Mar 17, 2006·Nature·Paul W K Rothemund
Nov 30, 2006·Angewandte Chemie·Euan R KayFrancesco Zerbetto
May 15, 2007·Computational Biology and Chemistry·William R Taylor
Nov 6, 2007·Nature Materials·E M HerzigP S Clegg
Jan 19, 2008·Nature·Peng YinNiles A Pierce
Jul 16, 2008·Biophysical Journal·C MichelettiD W Sumners
Sep 4, 2008·Physical Review Letters·Mikael C RechtsmanPaul J Steinhardt
Apr 4, 2009·Science·Tosan OmabeghoNadrian C Seeman
Jun 18, 2009·Nucleic Acids Research·Shawn M DouglasWilliam M Shih
Nov 18, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Marian FlorescuPaul J Steinhardt
Dec 19, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Davide MarenduzzoCristian Micheletti
Mar 3, 2010·Annual Review of Biophysics·Dario MeluzziGaurav Arya
May 14, 2010·Nature·Kyle LundHao Yan
Jun 22, 2010·Nature Nanotechnology·Tim LiedlWilliam M Shih
Aug 6, 2010·PLoS Computational Biology·Raffaello PotestioHenri Orland
Dec 15, 2010·Nature Materials·Barbara RuzickaFrancesco Sciortino
Mar 15, 2011·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·D MarenduzzoE Orlandini
Mar 17, 2011·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Peter VirnauSophie Jackson
Jul 2, 2011·Science·Uroš TkalecIgor Muševič
Jul 12, 2011·ACS Nano·Jason D ForsterEric R Dufresne
Dec 16, 2011·Nature Chemistry·Jean-François AymeDavid Schultz
Dec 20, 2011·Nature Chemical Biology·Anna L Mallam, Sophie E Jackson
Jul 26, 2012·Nature Communications·Flavio Romano, Francesco Sciortino
Jul 28, 2012·Science·Pablo F DamascenoSharon C Glotzer
Nov 10, 2012·Science·Nandhini PonnuswamyJeremy K M Sanders
May 17, 2014·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Nandhini PonnuswamyJeremy K M Sanders
Jun 6, 2014·Angewandte Chemie·Jean-François AymeDavid A Leigh
Feb 15, 2013·Physical Review Letters·Ivan ColuzzaChristoph Dellago

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 30, 2015·Soft Matter·Raffaello Potestio, Luca Tubiana
Nov 22, 2016·Chemical Society Reviews·Kate E HornerPaul M Sutcliffe
Jul 21, 2017·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Emanuela BianchiPeter D J van Oostrum
Feb 1, 2017·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Ivan Coluzza
Nov 2, 2019·Chemistry : a European Journal·Kenji CapriceTatu Kumpulainen
Jan 14, 2017·Science·Jonathan J DanonSteffen L Woltering
Aug 5, 2018·Nature Communications·Mattia MarendaCristian Micheletti
Mar 15, 2020·Physical Review. E·Olafs VandansLiang Dai
May 10, 2017·Angewandte Chemie·Stephen D P FieldenSteffen L Woltering
Apr 27, 2017·Scientific Reports·Michele CaraglioEnzo Orlandini
Jul 2, 2020·ACS Central Science·Maziar HeidariAlireza Mashaghi
Sep 22, 2021·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Enzo Orlandini, Cristian Micheletti

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved