
Single-molecule pH sensors have been developed by utilizing molecular imaging of pH-responsive shape transition of nanomechanical DNA origami devices with atomic force microscopy (AFM). Short DNA fragments that can form i-motifs were introduced to nanomechanical DNA origami devices with pliers-like shape (DNA Origami Pliers), which consist of two levers of 170-nm long and 20-nm wide connected at a Holliday-junction fulcrum. DNA Origami Pliers can be observed as in three distinct forms; cross, antiparallel and parallel forms, and cross form is the dominant species when no additional interaction is introduced to DNA Origami Pliers. Introduction of nine pairs of 12-mer sequence (5'-AACCCCAACCCC-3'), which dimerize into i-motif quadruplexes upon protonation of cytosine, drives transition of DNA Origami Pliers from open cross form into closed parallel form under acidic conditions. Such pH-dependent transition was clearly imaged on mica in molecular resolution by AFM, showing potential application of the system to single-molecular pH sensors.
DNA Nanotechnology, DNA Origami, Chemical technology, nanomechanical devices, Proton Detection, TP1-1185, Biosensing Techniques, DNA, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Single-Molecule Sensors, Microscopy, Atomic Force, Article, Nanostructures, Nanotechnology, Nucleic Acid Conformation, AFM, i-motif, pH Sensors
DNA Nanotechnology, DNA Origami, Chemical technology, nanomechanical devices, Proton Detection, TP1-1185, Biosensing Techniques, DNA, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Single-Molecule Sensors, Microscopy, Atomic Force, Article, Nanostructures, Nanotechnology, Nucleic Acid Conformation, AFM, i-motif, pH Sensors
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