2025-06-18 東京科学大学
図1. 光照射により流動性を制御できるDNA微小流体型分子ロボット(コンセプト図)。
<関連情報>
- https://www.isct.ac.jp/ja/news/z436fk2amunb
- https://www.isct.ac.jp/plugins/cms/component_download_file.php?type=2&pageId=&contentsId=1&contentsDataId=1768&prevId=&key=cac13b977c997a870bd4fe3399e35501.pdf
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59100-x
光スイッチング可能なDNA凝縮体の遠隔操作による機械的・方向的運動 Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates
Hirotake Udono,Shin-ichiro M. Nomura & Masahiro Takinoue
Nature Communications Published:14 May 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59100-x
Abstract
Membrane-free synthetic DNA-based condensates enable programmable control of dynamic behaviors as shown by phase-separated condensates in biological cells. We demonstrate remote-controlled microflow using photocontrollable state transitions of DNA condensates, assembled from multi-branched DNA nanostructures via sticky-end (SE) hybridization. Introducing azobenzene into SEs enables their photoswitchable binding affinity, which underlies photoreversible fluidity of the resulting condensates that transition between gel/liquid/dissociated states in a wavelength-dependent manner. Leveraging base-sequence programmability, spatially coupled orthogonal DNA condensates with divergent photoresponsive capabilities perform multi-modal mechanical actions that depend on azobenzene insertion sites in the SE, including switching flows radially expanding and converging under photoswitching. Localizing photoswitching within a DNA liquid condensate generates two distinct directional motions, whose contrasting morphology, direction, and lifetime are determined by switching frequency. Numerical simulations reveal its regulatory role in weight-adjusting energy-exchanging and energy-dissipative interactions between the photoirradiated and unirradiated domains.
