Spatially-defined active matter using DNA strands

Living systems have the incredible ability to organize themselves from molecules to the macroscopic scale. To understand the complex processes involved, we are reproducing some features of morphogenesis by rationally designing spatiotemporal patterns in artificial active materials. Taking advantages of the predictable interactions between their sequences, we use nucleic acids as elementary bricks to build complex active systems.
We designed a minimal system composed of protein filaments and modified molecular motors that can convert chemical energy into large-scale mechanical work upon the addition of a specific DNA strand. We expressed and purified each molecular components and rationally-assembled them to create a DNA-responsive material. This material undergoes macroscopic changes resulting in global or local contractions. This approach can be used to create original out-of-equilibrium systems that link a DNA-based chemical reaction network capable of generating a concentration landscape, as previously demonstrated [1], with a force-generating system.

[1] Zadorin et al., Nat. Chem. (2017)