Structure

In order to mimic the movement of muscle by DNA origami, we introduced “interlocked structure” in our design as Figure E1.

In previous studies, it showed that interlocked organic molecules could extend or contract in different condition shown. Based on this concept, we replaced the organic molecule with DNA, and designed NanoMuscle which contains two DNA origami monomers interlocked with each other.

Base

Axle

Ring

Top

Structure Top

Citation:

[E-1]

Bruns, Carson J., and J. Fraser Stoddart. "Rotaxane-based molecular muscles." Accounts

of chemical research 47.7 (2014): 2186-2199.

Figure E1. Interlocked structure. [E-1]

Interlocked Structure

Three Components

To form the interlocked monomers of NanoMuscle, we designed three components in a monomer.

Figure E2. Base Structure. Cross section of origami, where the deep color represents the structure that pass through the section. Each circle represents a double helix DNA.

1. BASE:

The base is a 10 (nm) x 4 (nm) plate-like structure at the bottom of the monomer. It prevents the interlocked monomers from sliding off each other.

2. AXLE:

The axle is a 160 nm six-helix bundle (No. 4, 42, 43, 72, 73, 111, 118, 119 in Figure E3). It connects the base and the ring, and plays the role in being a track during sliding process.

Figure E3. Axle Structure. Cross section of origami, where the deep color represents the structure that pass through the section. Each circle represents a double helix DNA.

3. RING:

The ring is the key structure in interlocked monomers. It ties two axles together in a restricted area and makes monomers slide along the direction paralleled to axle.

There are two hinge zones at No. 39, 40, 41 and No. 74, 75, 76. The two zones are flexible for the ring structure to change slightly for ring closing. There are two balk zones at No. 6 ~ 11 and No. 104 ~ 109. These two zones generate steric effect and help ring closing process shown as Figure E4.

Figure E4. Ring Structure. Cross section of origami, where the deep color represents the structure that pass through the section. Each circle represents a double helix DNA.

3D structure made by Autodesk Maya is displayed in Figure E5. It shows the Base, Axle and Ring part in three figures, including Top view (Figure E5a), Side view (Figure E5b) and Back view (Figure E5c).

Figure E5a. Top view of NanoMuscle. (Maya image).

Figure E5b. Side view of NanoMuscle. (Maya image).

Figure E5c. Back view of NanoMuscle. (Maya image).