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The control of regulatory enzymes is essential for the modulation of biochemical cellular pathways. Here, the authors fabricate a tweezer-like DNA nanodevice to actuate the activity of an enzyme/cofactor pair, and are able to control enzyme inhibition and activation over multiple cycles.

Artificial systems to control the transport of molecules across biomembranes can be useful for biosensing or drug delivery. Here, the authors assemble a DNA channel enabling the precisely timed, stimulus-controlled transport of functional proteins across bilayer membranes.

DNA-based molecular computation allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple types of biomarker, as shown for the accurate identification of prostate cancer in serum samples on the basis of specific RNAs, proteins and small molecules.

DNA tiles can be used as a platform to display two different aptamers — short sequences of nucleotides that bind to proteins — with high spatial control, to systematically study the distance dependence of multivalent interactions.

Enzymatic reactions can be coupled together by carefully organizing the enzymes on DNA scaffolds.

A design approach for engineering wireframe DNA nanostructures, in which each vertex and line segment can be individually controlled, can be used to fabricate complex structures including quasicrystalline two-dimensional patterns and reconfigurable three-dimensional Archimedean solids.

Engineered crystal architectures from DNA have become a foundational goal for nanotechnological precise arrangement. Here, the authors systematically investigate the structures of 36 immobile Holliday junction sequences and identify the features allowing the crystallisation of most of them, while 6 are considered fatal.

DNA origami is used as a template to produce complex geometric shapes of nanoscale silica hybrid materials.

Traditional robots need to store internal representations of their goals and environment, and to coordinate sensing and the movement of components required in response. Individual molecules are limited in their ability to store complex information, but robotic behaviour can still be realized — as has now been shown with DNA walkers, which can carry out a sequence of actions such as 'start', 'follow', 'turn' and 'stop' that are programmed into the DNA landscape on which the walkers move.

A DNA nanostructure can be used to create a multi-enzyme complex in which an artificial swinging arm facilitates hydride transfer between two coupled dehydrogenases.

A Möbius strip — a ribbon-like structure with only one side — can be assembled from DNA origami and then reconfigured into various topologies by cutting along the length of the strip.

Designing nucleic acid-based nanostructures with knots remains challenging. Here the authors present a general strategy to design and construct highly knotted 2D and 3D nanostructures from single-stranded DNA or RNA

The programmable disorder often seen in biological networks has now been demonstrated with DNA origami tiles using a stochastic algorithm.

Cells compartmentalize enzymes for enhanced efficiency of their metabolic pathways. Here, the authors describe a self-assembly approach to construct DNA nanocaged enzymes for enhancing catalytic activity and stability, and observe an inversed correlation between the protein size and the activity enhancement.

A six-helix bundle DNA structure called meta-DNA has now been assembled and shown to possess some structural properties similar to those of single-stranded DNA. Two meta-DNAs containing complementary ‘meta-base pairs’ are shown to form double helices. Meta-DNA building blocks are also used to construct a series of DNA architectures and to perform a hierarchical strand-displacement reaction.

Though DNA framework-based scaffolds for biomolecular assembly are attractive for bioimaging applications, realizing super-multiplex fluorescent amplifiers remains a challenge. Here, the authors report a topological engineering approach to designing fractal DNA frameworks for multiplexed amplifiers.

Strongly interacting dye molecule complexes with coherent energy transport can be organized through programmable DNA scaffolds.

DNA origami nanostructures with different shapes can accumulate preferentially in the kidney, with some being renal-protective, as shown in healthy mice and in a mouse model of acute kidney injury.

DNA can be designed to self-assemble into target shapes, but the size and quantity of objects that can be prepared have been limited. Methods to overcome these problems have now been found.

Metal ions have been incorporated at specific pre-programmed locations into a well-defined, three-dimensional DNA structure. Applications of such cages could arise from the functionalities of the metal centres, guest encapsulation or biomimetic properties.

A tiny, locked box made of DNA opens up to release drug molecules in the presence of target cells.

Ned Seeman, pioneer of the field of structural DNA nanotechnology, passed away on November 16, 2021.

Diodes, logic gates and sensors can be built from metal nanoparticles coated with charged organic ligands.

DNA nanotechnology provides a versatile toolbox for engineering synthetic circuits in living cells. This Review discusses how nanostructures made from nucleic acids can enable biocomputation and also be readily interfaced with a variety of intracellular and in vivo components to facilitate synthetic biology applications.

DNA origami-based nanorobot presents thrombin to cause tumor infarction after specific recognition of a tumor vessel marker.

Dey et al. discuss the design and implementation of DNA origami, as well as the techniques used to analyse quality and construction. They summarize exciting new research areas where DNA nanotechnology is being used and future directions for the field.

DNA molecules have been used to build a variety of novel nanoscale structures and devices over the past 30 years. This article reviews the challenges facing the field of structural DNA nanotechnology and outlines promising potential applications in areas such as molecular and cellular biophysics, energy transfer and photonics, and diagnostics and therapeutics for human health.

The complexity of DNA-programmed nanoparticle assemblies has reached an unprecedented level owing to recent advances that enable delicate and comprehensive control over the formation of DNA bonds.