High-Resolution Structural Analysis of a DNA Nanostructure by cryoEM

Abstract

Many DNA nanostructures have been produced and a wide range of potential applications have been proposed. However, confirmation of accurate 3D construction is particularly challenging. Here, we demonstrate that cryoEM may be exploited to obtain structural information at sufficient resolution to visualize the DNA helix and reveal the absolute stereochemistry of a 7 nm self-assembled DNA tetrahedron. Structural analysis at such high resolution by cryoEM image analysis is unprecedented for any biological molecule of this size.