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Science 1 February 2008:
Vol. 319. no. 5863, pp. 594 - 596
DOI: 10.1126/science.1151424
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Reports

Single-Molecule Cut-and-Paste Surface Assembly

S. K. Kufer,1 E. M. Puchner,1 H. Gumpp,1 T. Liedl,2 H. E. Gaub1

We introduce a method for the bottom-up assembly of biomolecular structures that combines the precision of the atomic force microscope (AFM) with the selectivity of DNA hybridization. Functional units coupled to DNA oligomers were picked up from a depot area by means of a complementary DNA strand bound to an AFM tip. These units were transferred to and deposited on a target area to create basic geometrical structures, assembled from units with different functions. Each of these cut-and-paste events was characterized by single-molecule force spectroscopy and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy. Transport and deposition of more than 5000 units were achieved, with less than 10% loss in transfer efficiency.

1 Center for Nanoscience and Department of Physics, University of Munich, Amalienstrasse 54, 80799 Munich, Germany.
2 Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, and Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)