TITLE: “Electric actuation of DNA-based molecular machines.”
ABSTRACT: A wide range of machine-like molecular assemblies have been generated over the past years. Most of them have been driven (or controlled) by DNA hybridization, utilization of buffer changes, or using chemical modifications such as photoswitches. A more recently explored strategy is the use of electrical fields for the manipulation of DNA devices, which enables fast and computer-controlled actuation. In the talk, several examples of such DNA origami-based „nanorobotic“ systems will be discussed, including a DNA „robot arm“, molecular springs, an origami based Brownian ratchet with rotary movement, and others. On a slightly different topic, also a novel strategy to control microswimmers using AC electrical fields will be presented.
