Exceptional Nuclease Resistance of Paranemic Crossover (PX) DNA and Crossover-Dependent Biostability of DNA Motifs

Nanometer-sized features and molecular recognition properties make DNA a useful material for nanoscale construction, but degradation in biological fluids poses a considerable roadblock to biomedical applications of DNA nanotechnology. Here, we report the remarkable biostability of a multistranded motif called paranemic crossover (PX) DNA. Compared to double stranded DNA, PX DNA has dramatically enhanced (sometimes >1000 fold) resistance to degradation by four different nucleases, bovine and human serum, and human urine. We trace the cause of PX's biostability to DNA crossovers, showing a continuum of protection that scales with the number of crossovers. These results suggest that enhanced biostability can be engineered into DNA nanostructures by adopting PX-based architectures or by strategic crossover placement.