‘Nucleo-nanocages’: designed ternary oligodeoxyribonucleotides spontaneously form nanosized DNA cages

Abstract

DNA three-way junctions formed from three 30-mer oligonucleotides that contain single-chained self-complementary sticky ends spontaneously self-assemble into ‘nucleo-nanocages’: the exo- and endo-nuclease digestion experiments indicate that defects such as the single and double strand end structures are absent on the spherical nano-assemblies, providing clear evidence for the closed nanocage structure.