Left-Handed Helices in DNA Nanotechnology

DNA nanotechnology involves the use of DNA as a material to build nanoscale shapes and structures. This strategy typically uses the conventional right-handed B-form DNA for nanoscale construction. In some cases, alternate nucleic acid structures, such as those that form left-handed helices, are used in the design and assembly of nanostructures. Creation of left-handed helices for nanostructures uses Z-DNA, a left-handed structure, or L-DNA strands that result in the formation of a left-handed duplex. In addition, structures that have a global left-handed helicity but underlying right-handed B-DNA units have also been created. This perspective discusses the left-hand helices used in DNA nanotechnology, their applications, and their future impact.