Single Molecule Mechanical Measurements using 3D DNA-Origami Nanostructures

The recent development of the origami technique has revolutionized DNA-based assembly by allowing the synthesis of arbitrarily shaped and sub-micrometer sized two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) architectures with atomic precision. Such structures offer great potential for the development of nanomechanical elements, mediators and sensors, since by varying the structure design mechanical elements with tuneable mechanical properties could be fabricated. Here we present direct mechanical measurements on single DNA origami objects. We show how such structures can be rigidly interfaced with surfaces and characterize their bending and torsional rigidities. Based on this, a model that can describe the mechanical properties of DNA-Origami nanostructures is presented. Using our knowledge about DNA origami mechanics we designed new assays for fast torque measurements on single DNA molecules. First results on the realization of such assays in which the origami structure serves as a torsional spring and a so-called rotor bead as a twist reporter are presented.