Researchers craft ‘origami DNA’ to control virus assembly

The global team behind the research, published in Nature Nanotechnology, developed a way to direct the assembly of virus capsids – the protein shell of viruses – at physiological conditions in a precise and programmable manner. Dr Frank Sainsbury and Dr Donna McNeale from the Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery were part of the research team and said forcing viruses to assemble onto DNA folded into different shapes “like origami” was a question that this project answered. “We achieved control over the virus protein shape, size and topology by using user-defined DNA origami nanostructures as binding and assembly platforms, which became embedded within the capsid,” Dr Sainsbury said. “The virus protein coatings could shield the encapsulated DNA origami from degradation. “This activity is more like wrapping a present – the virus proteins deposit on top of the different shape that is defined by the DNA origami shape. “And different virus proteins are like different wrapping...