Using DNA-driven assembled phospholipid nanodiscs as a scaffold for gold nanoparticle patterning

Langmuir. 2013 Oct 22;29(42):13089-94. doi: 10.1021/la403091w. Epub 2013 Oct 10.

Abstract

Recently, a new class of materials emerged with the assembly of DNA-coated phospholipid nanodiscs into columnar BioNanoStacks. Within these stacks, lipid discs are periodically incorporated, resulting into quasi-one-dimensional superstructures. With each disc surrounded by two recombinant scaffolding proteins, we decided to examine whether the polyhistidine tags of these proteins could be utilized to bind additional molecules or particles to these BioNanoStacks. Here we demonstrate that patterning of gold nanoparticles onto these BioNanoStacks is indeed possible. Binding occurs via a nickel-mediated interaction between the nanogolds nitrilotriacetic acid and the histidine tags of the scaffold proteins surrounding the nanodiscs. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we determine that the binding of the nanogold particles to the stacks is not a random event. By comparing the simulation and experimental results, we find that there are preferred binding sites, which affects the binding statistics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Nickel / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Phospholipids / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phospholipids
  • Gold
  • Nickel
  • DNA