DNA self-assembly is an emerging technology whose potential applications are only just beginning to be explored. It allows programmed construction of structures on a molecular scale with near atomic precision including the synthesis of nanoscale maps of the world and DNA robots that ‘walk’ along DNA mats. These spectacular advances clearly indicate the maturity of the method to reliably make atomically precise nanoscale objects for technological advance.
Here, we explore the potential to use DNA nanostructures to template the artificial synthesis of large protein assemblies. This includes an experimental characterization of the solution properties of the DNA origami tile in solution with X-ray scattering and the templated assembly of oligomeric protein complexes.