Pyrrole/Imidazole–Polyamide Anchors for DNA Tertiary Interactions

Tertiary interactions are introduced for DNA nanotechnology by covalently coupling a sequence-specific DNA-binding polyamide (“anchor”) to an oligonucleotide. By ligating this DNA–polyamide hybrid into a double-stranded DNA circle that carries the binding site for the polyamide, the circles self-assemble to form stable homodimeric complexes that are imaged by atomic force microscopy (see image).