Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates
Abstract Membrane-free synthetic DNA-based condensates enable programmable control of dynamic behaviors as shown by phase-separated condensates in biological cells. We demonstrate remote-controlled microflow using photocontrollable state transitions of DNA condensates, assembled from multi-branched...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59100-x |
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| author | Hirotake Udono Shin-ichiro M. Nomura Masahiro Takinoue |
| author_facet | Hirotake Udono Shin-ichiro M. Nomura Masahiro Takinoue |
| author_sort | Hirotake Udono |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Membrane-free synthetic DNA-based condensates enable programmable control of dynamic behaviors as shown by phase-separated condensates in biological cells. We demonstrate remote-controlled microflow using photocontrollable state transitions of DNA condensates, assembled from multi-branched DNA nanostructures via sticky-end (SE) hybridization. Introducing azobenzene into SEs enables their photoswitchable binding affinity, which underlies photoreversible fluidity of the resulting condensates that transition between gel/liquid/dissociated states in a wavelength-dependent manner. Leveraging base-sequence programmability, spatially coupled orthogonal DNA condensates with divergent photoresponsive capabilities perform multi-modal mechanical actions that depend on azobenzene insertion sites in the SE, including switching flows radially expanding and converging under photoswitching. Localizing photoswitching within a DNA liquid condensate generates two distinct directional motions, whose contrasting morphology, direction, and lifetime are determined by switching frequency. Numerical simulations reveal its regulatory role in weight-adjusting energy-exchanging and energy-dissipative interactions between the photoirradiated and unirradiated domains. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da7d44d2d42947a7b8ecc0ce4e0b0857 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-da7d44d2d42947a7b8ecc0ce4e0b08572025-08-20T03:53:46ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111610.1038/s41467-025-59100-xRemote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensatesHirotake Udono0Shin-ichiro M. Nomura1Masahiro Takinoue2Department of Computer Science, School of Computing, Institute of Science TokyoDepartment of Robotics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku UniversityDepartment of Computer Science, School of Computing, Institute of Science TokyoAbstract Membrane-free synthetic DNA-based condensates enable programmable control of dynamic behaviors as shown by phase-separated condensates in biological cells. We demonstrate remote-controlled microflow using photocontrollable state transitions of DNA condensates, assembled from multi-branched DNA nanostructures via sticky-end (SE) hybridization. Introducing azobenzene into SEs enables their photoswitchable binding affinity, which underlies photoreversible fluidity of the resulting condensates that transition between gel/liquid/dissociated states in a wavelength-dependent manner. Leveraging base-sequence programmability, spatially coupled orthogonal DNA condensates with divergent photoresponsive capabilities perform multi-modal mechanical actions that depend on azobenzene insertion sites in the SE, including switching flows radially expanding and converging under photoswitching. Localizing photoswitching within a DNA liquid condensate generates two distinct directional motions, whose contrasting morphology, direction, and lifetime are determined by switching frequency. Numerical simulations reveal its regulatory role in weight-adjusting energy-exchanging and energy-dissipative interactions between the photoirradiated and unirradiated domains.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59100-x |
| spellingShingle | Hirotake Udono Shin-ichiro M. Nomura Masahiro Takinoue Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates Nature Communications |
| title | Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates |
| title_full | Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates |
| title_fullStr | Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates |
| title_short | Remote-controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable DNA condensates |
| title_sort | remote controlled mechanical and directional motions of photoswitchable dna condensates |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59100-x |
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