cfaed Seminar Series
cfaed Seminar Series
Dr. John P. Sadowski , Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, USA
Design and synthesis of dynamically assembling DNA nanostructures
20.05.2015 (Wednesday)
, 16:00 - 17:30
Barkhausen-Bau, BAR II/ 63a , Helmholtzstraße 18 , 01069 Dresden
Abstract:
Kinetically controlled isothermal growth is fundamental to biological development, yet it remains challenging to rationally design molecular systems that self-assemble isothermally into complex geometries via prescribed assembly and disassembly pathways. By exploiting the programmable chemistry of base pairing, sophisticated spatial and temporal control have been demonstrated in DNA self-assembly, but largely as separate pursuits. By integrating temporal with spatial control, the "developmental" self-assembly of a DNA tetrahedron as been accomplished, where a prescriptive molecular program orchestrates the kinetic pathways by which DNA molecules isothermally self-assemble into a well-defined three-dimensional wireframe geometry. In this reaction, nine DNA reactants initially coexist metastably, but upon catalysis by a DNA initiator molecule, navigate 24 individually characterizable intermediate states via prescribed assembly pathways, organized both in series and in parallel, to arrive at the tetrahedral final product. In contrast to previous work on dynamic DNA nanotechnology, this developmental program coordinates growth of ringed substructures into a three-dimensional wireframe superstructure, taking a step toward the goal of kinetically controlled isothermal growth of complex three-dimensional geometries.
Short Biographical Sketch:
Education
2013: Ph.D., Chemistry, Harvard University
2009: M.A., Chemistry, Harvard University
2007: B.S. with Honor, Chemistry, minor in History & Philosophy of Science, California Institute of Technology
Research experience
2014- current: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
2007- 2013: Graduate Student in Chemistry, Harvard University
2004- 2007: Undergraduate Research Fellow, California Institute of Technology
2001 - 2003: Visiting high school student, New York University
Awards:
2014: American Society of Engineering Education Postdoctoral Fellowship
2014: National Academy of Sciences Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship
2008: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
2007: Buttonwood Foundation J. Marshall & Jane H. Booker Graduate Scholarship
2003: Caltech Axline Merit Award