Communications Chemistry (May 2023)

Real-time imaging of sulfhydryl single-stranded DNA aggregation

  • Fanwei Zeng,
  • Youhong Jiang,
  • Nana He,
  • Tiantian Guo,
  • Tiqing Zhao,
  • Mi Qu,
  • Yue Sun,
  • Shuting Chen,
  • Dan Wang,
  • Yong Luo,
  • Guangwen Chu,
  • Jianfeng Chen,
  • Shi-Gang Sun,
  • Hong-Gang Liao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-023-00886-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract The structure and functionality of biomacromolecules are often regulated by chemical bonds, however, the regulation process and underlying mechanisms have not been well understood. Here, by using in situ liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LP-TEM), we explored the function of disulfide bonds during the self-assembly and structural evolution of sulfhydryl single-stranded DNA (SH-ssDNA). Sulfhydryl groups could induce self-assembly of SH-ssDNA into circular DNA containing disulfide bonds (SS-cirDNA). In addition, the disulfide bond interaction triggered the aggregation of two SS-cirDNA macromolecules along with significant structural changes. This visualization strategy provided structure information at nanometer resolution in real time and space, which could benefit future biomacromolecules research.